Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Controversy Erupts as Spanish Soccer Federation President Kisses Player

Share

 

 

Government officials have chastised the president of the Spanish soccer federation for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the revelries following their victory in the women’s World Cup.

In a video shared on social media by El Mundo newspaper and other outlets, Hermoso was overheard expressing her discomfort to teammates in the locker room after the incident.

The incident occurred as Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish soccer federation, was presenting gold medals to the team following their 1-0 win against England on Sunday.

Hermoso subsequently played down the incident in a statement conveyed to the Spanish news agency EFE via the federation.

The statement read, “It was a mutual and entirely spontaneous gesture driven by the immense joy of winning a World Cup. The ‘presi’ and I share a strong rapport; he has consistently treated us with the utmost respect. This was a natural demonstration of affection and gratitude.”

When questioned about the matter on Spain’s COPE Radio station, Hermoso remarked, “I hope they find something else to create controversy about. I am a world champion, and that is what truly matters.”

Rubiales, on the other hand, dismissed those raising questions as “foolish.”

“The kiss with Jenni? Fools are everywhere. When two individuals share a moment of affection that signifies nothing more, we must disregard foolishness. We are the champions, and that’s the bottom line,” he commented as reported by Radio Marca.

However, ministers and portions of the media were displeased with the incident.

Miquel Iceta, the Acting Minister of Culture and Sports, stated on RNE radio on Monday that the kiss was inappropriate and called on Rubiales to offer an explanation and an apology.

Acting Gender Equality Minister Irene Montero conveyed on the X social network (formerly Twitter) that a non-consensual kiss represents “a form of sexual violence that women experience on a daily basis, which was previously unseen, and we must not normalize it.”

Acting Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra, affiliated with Montero’s party, raised the question, “If they do this in front of the entire country, what might they do in private?”

An op-ed in Spain’s leading newspaper, El Pais, titled “Jenni Didn’t Welcome the Kiss, and Neither Did We,” described the incident as “an intrusion, a violation of privacy, an assault.”

Gender matters are a significant issue in Spain.

You can read: New York City Implements Ban on TikTok for Government Devices

The government led by the Socialists has introduced various legal reforms concerning gender identity, abortion, and sex work. Nonetheless, a loophole in the sexual consent law resulted in the release of rapists from prison, causing a substantial electoral setback for Montero’s far-left Podemos party, which is part of the governing coalition, in the July election.

Follow Us On Social Media:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Twitter

Read more

All Catagories