CNN
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Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales has faced criticism for giving Spain midfielder Jennifer Hermoso a surprise kiss on the lips after the 33-year-old received her gold medal. medal after the final victory of the Women’s World Cup against England on Sunday.
Rubiales was on stage for the FIFA awards ceremony after the final, along with other dignitaries, including world soccer governing president Gianni Infantino, Spain’s Queen Letizia and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese .
The video shows Rubiales hugging Hermoso, then placing both hands on her head before kissing her. She then patted him on the back as she walked away.
“Hey, I don’t like it, eh,” said Hermoso as he apparently answered questions about the incident in a live video on Instagram – the clip of which shared by Spanish journalist Irati Vida of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Later in the Instagram live video – taken in the locker room in Spain – Hermoso fielded a question from another woman: “But what are you doing, sis?” The 33-year-old replied: “But what should I do?”
In the radio program ‘El Tiempo de Juego’ of Cadena COPE, Hermoso talking about the kiss on Sunday, saying that he “didn’t expect it” but that “it was because of the emotion of the time, nothing else. It’s just an anecdote [of the time]. I’m sure it won’t explode again.”
Asked by Radio Marca what happened to Hermoso, Rubiales replied: “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. If two people have a moment of affection without importance, we will not listen to the nonsense. We are champions and I stand by it.
But on Monday, the Spanish political party SUMAR called for The resignation of Rubiales, while the Minister of Culture and Sport of Spain, Miquel Iceta, told RTVE that the kiss is “unacceptable.”
“I don’t think it’s acceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate him. And from what I see… I think it needs to be said. We all deserve respect,” said Iceta. “I think, first of all, what he needs to do is to give an explanation and show his reasoning. I think that is the logical and reasonable thing. ”
After Spain’s victory on Sunday, Alberto Ortega, of the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, posted by X that, “Rubiales took the trophy from the players to give it to Queen Leticia and kissing Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth is disgusting.”
“A new demonstration of the need to suck the camera [be the center of attention] and be the protagonist when it is not his turn,” added Ortega.
Daily Mirror journalist Colin Millar, who writes about European soccer for the British newspaper, described Rubiales’ behavior as “not ok.”
“This is the highlight of a footballer’s career and they are very emotional,” it was posted Millar of X.
Hermoso was not the only Spanish player that Rubiales kissed in the post-match celebrations.
After the other members of the Spain squad received their medals, the video showed that Rubiales kissed them on the cheek and held some of them in his arms.
Another video clip shows Rubiales interrupting a group of Spanish players celebrating, before kissing Olga Carmona, who scored Spain’s winner in a 1-0 win over England, on the cheek.
In footage posted by Spain star Salma Paralluelo in an Instagram Live, Rubiales is pictured entering the dressing room and telling the Spanish players that the RFEF will pay for a trip to Ibiza for them, and that he will get married there. to Hermoso.
CNN contacted Hermoso’s agent about the incident and the RFEF’s press officer in Australia for comment, but had not heard back by press time.