The President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, has been criticized for kissing female player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the 2023 World Cup medal ceremony.
Rubiales was on stage at the FIFA awards ceremony after the 2023 Women's World Cup final on August 20 alongside other dignitaries, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Queen Letizia of Spain and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On the podium, after handing out the medals, Rubiales hugged Hermoso, put his hands on his head and kissed him on the lips. Then the RFEF President patted the number 11 on the back as he left.
Rubiales in the moment of kissing Hermoso. Screenshot
Rubiales appears to be romantically involved with Hermoso. In a live Instagram video from winger Salma Paralluelo, Rubiales enters the dressing room after the final and tells the Spain players that the RFEF will pay for their trip to Ibiza, where he will marry Hermoso.
CNN has reached out to Hermoso's representatives and RFEF members in Australia about the incident, but has not received a response. However, in an Instagram live video, when asked about the kiss from the RFEF President, Hermoso said "I don't like it."
But on Radio Marca , Rubiales said it was just "two people showing affection in a gentle way" and did not care about "stupid people", referring to those who were angry at his behaviour. "We are champions and that is what I care about," the RFEF president added.
The moment Rubiales kissed Hermoso is causing a stir on social networks in Spain.
Journalist Alberto Ortega of El Confidencial criticized Rubiales for wanting to be the center of attention and that kissing Hermoso on the lips was "disgusting". Daily Mirror reporter Colin Millar stressed that the RFEF President's behavior was "not okay".
In addition to Hermoso, Rubiales also celebrated excessively with many others, kissing and hugging some players when receiving their medals. He then joined a group of members of the team in celebrating, kissing Olga Carmona on the cheek - who scored the only goal in the final against England.
Rubiales kissed Carmona on the cheek.
Rubiales is a former player, who grew up in the Atletico youth academy, and won the Spanish Second Division with Levante in 2004 and played in La Liga.
After retiring in 2009, Rubiales was elected President of the Spanish Footballers' Association and then elected President of the RFEF in May 2018. One of Rubiales' first major decisions was to fire coach Julen Lopetegui just before Spain's 2018 World Cup, after the coach secretly reached an agreement to coach Real Madrid.
Hong Duy
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