Spanish Football President Faces Backlash for Controversial Kiss Following Women’s World Cup Victory
Spanish Football President kissed Jenni Hermoso.
Spanish football president Luis Rubiales has found himself at the center of a storm of criticism after he kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the presentation ceremony following Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final. The 1-0 win for Spain was marred by the unexpected act, which has sparked a heated debate around consent, gender equality, and appropriate behavior.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the Spanish team triumphed over England in the highly anticipated World Cup final. During the post-match celebration, Rubiales approached Hermoso and kissed her on the lips, a gesture that immediately raised eyebrows and ignited a firestorm on social media.
Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, took to Instagram to express her discomfort with the kiss. However, a statement issued on her behalf later defended Rubiales, suggesting that the kiss was a “natural gesture of affection.” This response seemed to further complicate the matter, as it left people divided over the interpretation of the incident.
Government minister Irene Montero weighed in on the controversy, labeling the kiss as a form of “sexual violence” that women encounter daily. Montero, who also serves as Spain’s equalities minister, emphasized that such actions should not be normalized and highlighted the importance of not assuming that kissing without consent is acceptable behavior.
Rubiales defended his actions in a radio interview, referring to the kiss as a celebration between friends. He dismissed the criticism as coming from “idiots and stupid people” and urged everyone to focus on the positive aspects of the victory.
The controversy has raised broader questions about gender dynamics, consent, and the boundaries of appropriate behavior in the sports arena. The incident prompted the hashtag ‘dimision ya’ (“resign now” in English) to trend on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in Spain.
Even Spanish newspaper El Pais joined the conversation with a critical headline: “Jenni didn’t like Rubiales’ kiss, neither did we.” The headline reflected the growing sentiment that the president’s actions were inappropriate and disrespectful.
Despite the upheaval, Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup is a historic achievement. The team managed to secure victory despite controversies, including a player revolt against coach Jorge Vilda. In September 2022, 15 players submitted identical emails expressing concerns over their emotional well-being and health under Vilda’s leadership. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) continued to back Vilda, a stance they reaffirmed by posting “VILDA IN” on Spain’s official X account following their World Cup victory.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this controversial incident, it is clear that the discourse surrounding consent, gender equality, and the behavior of high-profile figures within the sports industry is far from over.
