Spain clinched victory in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, by defeating England 1-0 in the final.
However, controversy erupted in Spain when Luis Rubiales, the President of the Spanish Football Federation, kissed the player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after their win. Spain’s Equality Minister, Irene Montero, labeled this act as a form of “sexual violence.”
he 2023 Women’s World Cup has been a major success and created several memorable moments, especially during the final between Spain and England.
One of the viral images came after Spain won their first world title at this level, with the players taking to the stage to collect their medals and the trophy.
Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), was in charge of giving the medals to the players.
When congratulating Jenni Hermoso, the Pachuca player, the president gave her a kiss on the mouth, amidst the laughter of the president and player.
Rubiales was criticized widely by Spanish politicians and Equality Minister Irene Montero said it was a display of “sexual violence.” Spain’s minister of culture and sport, Miquel Iceta, said the kiss was “unacceptable” Monday on Spanish television.
“We all deserve respect,” Iceta said.
Spain football chief says sorry for kissing
Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales apologized Monday afternoon amid public and political outcry after he gave Spain’s midfielder and Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso an unwelcome kiss on the lips after she received her medal onstage after her team’s victory Sunday.
While Rubiales said in a statement he thought the furor was “idiotic,” the Royal Spanish Football Federation president appeared in a video posted to social media on Monday. “I have no choice but to apologize and to learn from this … and when representing the federation take more care,” Rubiales said.
“Certainly I made a mistake and I have to acknowledge that. It was done without any ill intention in a moment of the highest exuberance. Here we saw it as natural and normal but outside it has caused a commotion,” he said.
Union demands act not ‘go unpunished’
The players’ union representing the Women’s World Cup winner kissed without her consent by the president of the Spanish soccer federation said Wednesday that his inappropriate act should not go unpunished.
Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed forcibly by federation head Luis Rubiales during Sunday’s awards ceremony, said in a statement that the FUTPRO players’ union and her agent would “defend my interests and speak on my behalf.”
The union continued the statement by adding: “We are working so that the acts like the ones we witnessed don’t go unpunished, are sanctioned, and that pertinent measures are adopted to protect the soccer players against actions that are unacceptable.”
Source: Politico, AP