A kiss after winning the World Cup final caused a stir: Spain’s association president Luis Rubiales hugged and hugged the Spanish players at the award ceremony on Sunday – and kissed soccer player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth. The scene after the 1-0 win against England in Sydney was caught on video.
“I didn’t like it,” said the 33-year-old offensive player in an Instagram live stream shortly after the game – many users on social media expressed clear criticism of Rubiales. Later, the Spanish federation RFEF sent a statement to some media outlets, in which Hermoso dismissed the critical comments. “It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,” Hermoso is quoted as saying in the message, which was transmitted to the AFP news agency, among others: “The President and I have a very good relationship with each other , his behavior towards us was excellent and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.” This should “not be so much overrated”.
The incident also concerned Spanish politics. Spain’s Equal Opportunities Minister Irene Montero reported to X, formerly Twitter, with a clear verdict: “This is a form of sexual violence that we women suffer every day and that was previously invisible and that we must not normalize.” This is a task for society as a whole. “The focus is on approval. Only a yes is a yes,” wrote the minister.
The Spanish Minister for Social Rights, Ione Belarra, also wrote on X: “We all think: if they do this in front of the whole of Spain, what will they not do in private? Sexual violence against women must end. “
In the spanish daily newspaper El País it says in a comment: “What a pity that such a beautiful day is marred by this shabby machismo, this lack of sensitivity.”
Rubiales on criticism: “There are idiots everywhere”
Many players had already felt a lack of sensitivity even without this form of abusive behavior: Although the team has now won the World Cup, there was a lot of trouble in the months before – especially with coach Jorge Vilda. Last September, 15 national players had declared their temporary withdrawal from the Spanish selection in a letter. However, the association stood before Vilda. It was also evident during the World Cup that the atmosphere between him and the team remained tense.
When asked about his behavior, the head of the association said Rubiales in an interview with Radio Marca on Sunday night: “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that has no further meaning, you shouldn’t listen to idiots. We are the winners and I stand by that.”