The president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, has come in for criticism after he kissed the forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday night.
The kiss – delivered on stage during the official post-match ceremony – was captured on camera and has prompted outrage on social media.
Hermoso said on a live stream afterwards that she “didn’t like it”.
In comments later provided to media she appeared to clarify her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”.
“It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,” said Hermoso, in comments given to AFP by the Spanish federation. “The president and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”
Rubiales brushed off any suggestion that the act was inappropriate. “It was a kiss between two friends celebrating something,” he told the broadcaster COPE on Sunday, dismissing those who saw it differently as “idiots and stupid people”. He added: “Let’s ignore them and enjoy the good things.”
Reaction to the kiss continued to dominate Spanish news on Monday, with the minister of equality in the caretaker government, Irene Montero, describing it as “a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible,” on social media. “We can’t normalise this,” she added.
Her view was backed by Nadia Tronchoni, who leads sports coverage at the newspaper El País. “It’s an intrusion,” she wrote. “An invasion of one’s personal space. Without consent. An aggression.”
The Socialist politician Adrián Barbón characterised it as an “absolute lack of respect and an abuse that neither the moment, nor the euphoria, nor the joy justifies”, while a spokesperson for the leftwing coalition Sumar, Marta Lois, added her voice to the many on social media calling on Rubiales to resign.
Speaking on the Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, the presenter José Luis Sastre hinted at a double standard at play. “In the hundreds of celebrations that we’ve seen between Rubiales and male players, he didn’t grab any of them by the head in order to give them a kiss without asking.”
Video from the celebrations also shows Rubiales kissing other players on the cheeks and embracing them.
Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup came despite a long period of instability.
Last year 15 players refused to play for the coach Jorge Vilda, complaining about his tactics, training methods and style of management. Vilda said at the time of the boycott the accusations were “unjust” and the country’s football federation has maintained support for the coach. Three players subsequently returned and during this tournament Vilda has tried to steer attention away from the dispute and maintain focus on the football.
On an eventful evening, the federation also revealed the captain and goalscorer, Olga Carmona, discovered after the match her father had passed away. When he had died was not disclosed.
“We send our most sincere hugs to Olga and her family in a moment of deep pain,” RFEF posted on social media. “We love you, Olga, you are the history of Spanish football.”
