Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales is being criticized for kissing Spanish participant Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth in the course of the medal ceremony following Spain’s victory within the ultimate of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday in Sydney.

Noe Llamas/SPP/Sipa USA through Reuters Connect

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Noe Llamas/SPP/Sipa USA through Reuters Connect

Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales is being criticized for kissing Spanish participant Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth in the course of the medal ceremony following Spain’s victory within the ultimate of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday in Sydney.

Noe Llamas/SPP/Sipa USA through Reuters Connect

Spain simply received its first ever Women’s World Cup, and celebrated with an enormous get together in Madrid on Monday. But the enjoyment of its victory has been tempered by what occurred in the course of the medal ceremony: the top of the Royal Spanish Football Federation planting a kiss on the lips of one among Spain’s gamers.

Now, federation President Luis Rubiales is being roundly criticized, together with by Spain’s performing prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.

“It was an unacceptable gesture and Mr. Rubiales’ apologies are not enough; they are not even suitable. Therefore, he must continue taking steps to clarify what we saw,” Sánchez stated in a press convention on Tuesday, as reported by Spanish newspaper El País.

“We continue to ask for the resignation of the man who has harassed and assaulted a woman. His excuses are useless,” stated the federal government’s performing Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz, according to the newspaper. “This person must resign.”

The furor follows a second seen stay around the globe. During the match’s medal ceremony on Sunday in Sydney, the Spanish squad acquired their medals and proceeded via a receiving line that included Rubiales. As he greeted star forward Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales hugged Hermoso tightly, then pulled her head towards his face and kissed her firmly on the lips. During the procession, Rubiales kissed a number of different gamers on the cheek and embraced them tightly, lifting them off the bottom as he hugged them.

In a livestream of the team celebrating of their locker room after the sport, Hermoso says: “I didn’t like it.” As she is outwardly proven a video or picture of the kiss, she says, “What do I do? Look at me, look at me.”

Rubiales was additionally within the locker room, the place he introduced to the crew that they are going to all be going to Ibiza after which stated: “There we will celebrate the wedding of Jenni and Rubiales.” Video later confirmed Rubiales making a crotch-grabbing gesture within the stands after the win, a couple of toes away from the queen of Spain.

On Monday, the federation launched a video of Rubiales providing a supposed apology for his actions, which he describes as “very spontaneous” and “a moment of maximum effusiveness without any bad intention.”

“I have to apologize, there is no other option, right?” Rubiales says in the video. “And, furthermore, learn from this and understand that when you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful, especially in ceremonies.”

Rubiales had beforehand referred to as these criticizing him “idiots.”

Spanish news site Relevo reports that Rubiales had tried to persuade Hermoso to look with him in an apology video, however she refused to take action.

In an announcement despatched by the federation to Spanish information company EFE, Hermoso performed down Rubiales’ kiss.

“It was a mutual gesture that was totally spontaneous prompted by the huge joy of winning a World Cup,” her assertion stated, according to Reuters. “The ‘presi’ and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has always been 10 (out of 10) and this was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”

Spain’s minister for tradition and sport, Miquel Iceta, rebuked Rubiales on Monday.

“It seems unacceptable to me,” Iceta advised broadcaster RNE, as ESPN reported. “We’re in a moment of equality, of rights and respect for women. We all have to be particularly careful in our attitudes and our actions. I think it’s unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her.”

The prime minister’s public criticism of Rubiales adopted a reception during which the footballers had been congratulated.

“The players have done everything to win. But there have been some behaviors, such as those of Mr. Rubiales, which show that in our country there is still a long way to go in terms of equality and respect, and in the equalization of rights between women and men,” Sánchez stated.

Sánchez stated it was less than him whether or not Rubiales retains his job for the reason that Spanish soccer federation is just not managed by the federal government, The Associated Press reports, however the chief famous that Rubiales “has yet to be clear and compelling in his apologies.”

A spokesperson for Spain’s People’s Party referred to as Rubiales’ perspective “embarrassing” and stated “all institutional managers have a duty to be exemplary.”

A grievance has been filed with the National Sports Council in opposition to Rubiales by Miguel Galán, who leads a nationwide facility that trains soccer coaches, The Guardian reports. The grievance reportedly requires disciplinary procedures in opposition to Rubiales and calls the kiss a “sexist, intolerable act in sport,” arguing it violates a Spanish legislation barring sexism in sports activities.

Spain’s highway to the World Cup had already been marred by gamers’ complaints in opposition to their working situations and their coach, Jorge Vilda. Fifteen of the common gamers on the nationwide team refused to play under Vilda; three ultimately returned to the crew and had been a part of its victory.