Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has knocked the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, for kissing Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso after Spain World Cup triumph against England on Sunday.
Sanchez, who described the action as an unacceptable gesture, said, “Apologies are not enough considering the magnitude of the incident.”
Recall that Rubiales grabbed and kissed Hermoso on the lips on the podium during the trophy presentation ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
Hermoso, on her part, admitted she did not like the gesture but went on to speak out in defense of Rubiales.
Hermoso downplayed the kiss later on Sunday on the radio program ‘El Tiempo de Juego’ on Cadena COPE, saying “it was because of the emotion of the moment, there’s nothing more there.”
The Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Yolanda Diaz, also criticized Rubiales.
Diaz demanded his resignation, saying, “a woman has been harassed and assaulted.”
In the same vein, the Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, said she perceived the incident as a “form of sexual violence.”