Spain’s football president: criticism of the kiss after the World Cup final: “Form of sexual violence”

Luis Rubiales was always involved. The pictures after the big final in Sydney showed in particular the great jubilation of the new Spanish soccer world champions, who celebrated their first title dancing with the golden trophy. The scenes with the Spanish head of the association, who had become encroaching, caused a stir and clear criticism.

Spain’s culture and sports minister, Miquel Iceta, described the association’s leader’s behavior as “unacceptable” and demanded that Rubiales “first of all make statements and apologize”.

That’s what the powerful official did. He kissed Hermoso on the mouth “spontaneously” and “without any bad intentions or bad will”. “Here we all took it as something natural, normal, but outside there seems to have been an uproar,” explained Rubiales. “I have to apologize, there’s no way around it. And I have to learn from that and understand that as the president of an institution as important as the RFEF, you have to be more careful, especially with ceremonies and these kinds of things.” He “probably made a mistake”.

Rubiales kissed star player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without being asked when the medal was handed over. The 45-year-old congratulated Hermoso, who was twelve years younger, hugged her tightly and kissed her twice on the cheek before grabbing her head with both hands and kissing her on the mouth. “It is a form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and which has so far been invisible and which we must not normalize,” wrote Spain’s Minister for Gender Equality, Irene Montero, on X, formerly Twitter.

One should not assume that kissing without consent is something that just happens: “The focus is on consent. Only a yes is a yes,” the minister clarified. And she was far from alone in her criticism. “It’s unacceptable. It’s unbelievable,” said Netherlands women’s national team coach Andries Jonker. And Sports Minister Iceta said on the state radio station RNE: “We, in particular, who bear public responsibility, have to be very careful because we are giving society a message.”

But Rubiales also defended himself against the harsh criticism. “Idiots are everywhere. When two people share an unimportant gesture of mutual affection, you can’t pay any attention to the crap that’s being said,” he told Radio Marca before his apology. In a first reaction shortly after the award ceremony, Hermoso said on a video from the dressing room: “I didn’t like that.” She wouldn’t have known how to react.

Spanish association downplays scene

Rubiales also kissed other players on the cheek, as seen in pictures on social media. The Spanish football association RFEF then tried to downplay the scenes as quickly as possible. One should “not pay too much attention to this gesture of friendship and gratitude,” said Hermoso about the association. The Mexican club Pachuca striker added through official channels: “The ‘Presi’ and I have a great relationship. His behavior towards all of us was excellent.” One should not overrate the kiss now.

The German ex-national player Tabea Kemme felt the attack as completely out of place. “I wish that the people responsible for the psychological abuse of power in the Spanish association would be taken out of the system and sanctioned,” wrote the 2016 Olympic champion in her column for the news portal t-online on Monday. Last year, after the European Championships in England, a total of 15 national players temporarily resigned in protest against Spain’s association and the controversial national coach Jorge Vilda. Only three then came back and sensationally managed to triumph in the World Cup final against England.

The team actually wanted to get the association to separate from Vilda in 2022, but that didn’t happen, instead Boss Rubiales in particular stuck to him publicly. The reason for the players’ protest were many allegations. Inappropriate and excessive control measures are said to have built up psychological pressure, the media reported unanimously. The relationship between the national coach and the team is reportedly still not trouble-free. That was also evident in the celebrations after winning the title in Australia, as the players celebrated for a long time without the coaching staff.