The kiss on the mouth of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, to the player Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup medal ceremony went viral on social networks this Sunday. The player was heard in a live broadcast saying "I didn't like it" and in a later statement -provided by the RFEF to the EFE agency- she asked "not to think about it anymore" and defined it as "a natural gesture of affection and thanks." For Rubiales, "we are not for bullshit", according to his own words.
The controversy has reached even the acting Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, who has urged Rubiales to "give explanations and apologize" for the controversial kiss. "It seems unacceptable to me and yesterday was a sporting event, but we are also living in a moment of equality, rights and respect for women. We have to be especially careful in our attitudes and our actions", explained the minister in statements collected by Europe Press to RNE.
When asked about a possible resignation of Rubiales, he remarked that "the first thing to do is explain and make excuses." "That is logical and reasonable, because the time in Sydney was a time of many emotions: precisely those of us who have public responsibilities have to be extremely careful," he pointed out.
The acting ministers for Equality, Irene Montero, and for Social Rights and Agenda 2023, Ione Belarra, have been harsher, who have directly labeled the gesture as "sexual violence". "Let's not take for granted that kissing without consent is something that "happens". It is a form of sexual violence that women suffer on a daily basis and up to now invisible, and that we cannot normalize. It is the task of all of society. The consent in the center. Only yes is yes," Montero wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Belarra shared this text and added: "What we all think, if they do that with all of Spain watching, what will they not do in private. Sexual violence against women has to end"
For her part, the deputy and spokesperson for Sumar Marta Lois considered this behavior "intolerable." "This type of sexist behavior towards the Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso is intolerable. Mr. Rubiales should resign. A shame," she said in a message, reposted by the leader of the formation, Yolanda Díaz.
After the controversy generated, the RFEF sent a statement from Hernández: "It has been a totally spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy that winning a World Cup gives. The president and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has been ten and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude". In the statements sent to the EFE news agency, the world champion asked that attention not be diverted from her triumph: "You cannot go around a gesture of friendship and gratitude anymore, we have won a World Cup and we are not going to deviate from what is important ".
For his part, Rubiales, interviewed on Radio Marca and on El Partidazo de la Cope, downplayed the criticism generated on the networks. "The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have an insignificant show of affection, we can't pay attention to idiocy. We are champions and that's what I'll take," he said. "Let's not pay attention to the idiots and the stupid, really. It's a peak of two friends celebrating something... we are not for bullshit. Me, with everything I've been through, more bullshit and more stupid ass... Did not say. And, along the same lines: "Let's not listen and enjoy the good and don't even tell me about losers who don't know how to see the positive... It's something without evil. If there are fools, let them continue with their nonsense. There is more fools than windows. We are going to pay attention to those who are not fools... It is something without evil and nonsense, if people want to waste time on it...".
