Spain’s Jenni Hermoso Disputes Luis Rubiales’s Account of World Cup Kiss

The Royal Spanish Football Federation president denied wrongdoing in a controversial speech Friday.

Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final was a crowning moment for women’s sports in one of the world’s most soccer-crazy countries.

However, the victory has been overshadowed by scandal. Spain is grappling with the fallout from Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the postgame celebration.

On Friday morning, Rubiales made headlines with a provocative speech to the RFEF in which he repeatedly stated he had no intention to resign. Hermoso, however, rejected Rubiales’s claim that the kiss was consensual and joined her teammates in indicating they would not play for Spain again until Rubiales was ousted.

“I want to clarify, as you can see in the images, that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me,” Hermoso said Friday. “I won’t tolerate that my word is called into question, and even less so that words are invented which I didn’t say.”

FUTPRO, Spain’s women’s soccer union, tweeted a letter calling for Rubiales’s resignation. It was signed by all 23 members of the World Cup-winning team.

🚨 Las jugadoras de la @SEFutbolFem, campeonas del mundo y otras futbolistas, en apoyo a @Jennihermoso , manifiestan su firme condena ante conductas que han atentado contra la dignidad de las mujeres.
El comunicado queda abierto a las futbolistas que se quieran adherir#seacabo pic.twitter.com/PW91SW9Ts0

— FUTPRO (@futpro_es) August 25, 2023

Rubiales has served as the RFEF’s president since 2018.