The president of the Spanish soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, has are available for criticism after he kissed the ahead Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England within the World Cup remaining in Sydney on Sunday evening.
The kiss – delivered on stage in the course of the official post-match ceremony – was captured on digital camera and has prompted outrage on social media.
Hermoso stated on a reside stream afterwards that she “didn’t prefer it”.
In feedback later offered to media she appeared to make clear her place, saying it was a “pure gesture of affection”.
“It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense pleasure that successful a World Cup brings,” stated Hermoso, in feedback given to AFP by the Spanish federation. “The president and I’ve an excellent relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been excellent and it was a pure gesture of affection and gratitude.”
Rubiales dismissed any suggestion that the act was inappropriate. “It was a kiss between two pals celebrating one thing,” he informed the broadcaster COPE on Sunday, dismissing those that noticed it in another way as “idiots and silly individuals”. He added: “Let’s ignore them and benefit from the good issues.”
Response to the kiss continued to dominate Spanish information on Monday, with the minister of equality within the caretaker government, Irene Montero, describing it as “a type of sexual violence that we ladies undergo every day and till now has been invisible,” on social media. “We are able to’t normalise this,” she added.
Her view was backed by Nadia Tronchoni, who leads sports activities protection on the newspaper El País. “It’s an intrusion,” she wrote. “An invasion of 1’s private house. With out consent. An aggression.”
The Socialist politician Adrián Barbón characterised it as an “absolute lack of respect and an abuse that neither the second, nor the euphoria, nor the enjoyment justifies”, whereas a spokesperson for the leftwing coalition Sumar, Marta Lois, added her voice to the numerous on social media calling on Rubiales to resign.
Talking on the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, the presenter José Luis Sastre hinted at a double customary at play. “Within the lots of of celebrations that we’ve seen between Rubiales and male gamers, he didn’t seize any of them by the pinnacle with a view to give them a kiss with out asking.”
Video from the celebrations additionally exhibits Rubiales kissing different gamers on the cheeks and embracing them.
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Spain’s triumph within the Girls’s World Cup got here regardless of an extended interval of instability.
Final yr 15 gamers refused to play for the coach Jorge Vilda, complaining about his ways, coaching strategies and magnificence of administration. Vilda stated on the time of the boycott the accusations have been “unjust” and the nation’s soccer federation has maintained assist for the coach. Three gamers subsequently returned and through this match Vilda has tried to steer consideration away from the dispute and preserve deal with the soccer.
On an eventful night, the federation additionally revealed the captain and goalscorer, Olga Carmona, found after the match her father had passed away. When he had died was not disclosed.
“We ship our most honest hugs to Olga and her household in a second of deep ache,” RFEF posted on social media. “We love you, Olga, you’re the historical past of Spanish soccer.”
