Spain’s Soccer President Criticized for Kiss at World Cup Ceremony

The incident occurred at the gold medal celebration.

After Spain won its first Women’s World Cup championship Sunday, Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales is under fire for kissing forward Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the team’s award ceremony.

Rubiales was one of a few people on the podium as Spanish players received their gold medals following their 1-0 win over England in Sydney. When Hermoso approached Rubiales to get her medal, Rubiales appeared to excitedly hug and kiss her.

Hermoso shared the honor of being Spain’s top scorer in the World Cup as was one of three players on the team who scored three goals.

Rubiales y la federación están intentando que este vídeo desaparezca porque es absolutamente lamentable.

No se te ocurra darle difusión. pic.twitter.com/bcnjaP9uHh

— Diego 🌿 (@DiegoRBCA) August 20, 2023

While Hermoso was livestreaming Spain’s locker room celebration, she appeared to acknowledge and disavow the kiss from Rubiales.

“But what do I do? I didn’t like it, eh,” Hermoso said in Spanish.

“Pero qué hago yo? No me ha gustado eh”

Jenni sobre el beso de Rubiales. Poco nos pasa pic.twitter.com/fsND7x14AO

— Irati Vidal (@iratividal) August 20, 2023

“It was because of the emotion of the moment, there’s nothing more there,” Hermoso told the radio show El Tiempo de Juego, via CNN. “It’s just going to be an anecdote [of the time]. I’m absolutely sure it won’t be blown up more.”

On Monday, Miquel Iceta, Spain’s minister for culture and sport, called Rubiales’s kiss of Hermoso “unacceptable.”

“I think it’s unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her. And as far as I’ve seen … I think it has to be said. We all deserve respect,” Iceta said, via CNN. “I think, first of all, what he has to do is give an explanation and show his reasoning. I think that’s the logical and rational thing.”

The Spanish women’s national team has been under the microscope, as 15 players openly condemned their working conditions last year, and only three of those players went on to compete in the World Cup. The complaints pointed to coach Jorge Vilda for creating unsafe working conditions.