MADRID (Reuters) – The Spanish soccer federation president has received criticism from government ministers for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of their women’s World Cup victory.
Hermoso expressed her disapproval of the incident in a video posted on Instagram and YouTube by El Mundo newspaper and other media outlets, where she is heard telling her teammates in the locker room, “I didn’t like it.”
The kiss took place as Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish soccer federation, was distributing gold medals among the team after their 1-0 victory over England on Sunday.
Hermoso later downplayed the incident in a statement sent to the Spanish news agency EFE by the federation.
“It was a mutual gesture that was completely spontaneous, spurred by the immense joy of winning the World Cup,” the statement said. “The ‘presi’ and I have a great relationship, and his behavior towards all of us has always been exceptional. This was a natural display of affection and gratitude.”
When questioned about the incident on Spain’s COPE Radio station, Hermoso stated, “I wish they would create controversy involving someone else. I’m a world champion, and that’s what matters.”
In response, Rubiales dismissed those who raised questions, calling them “idiots.”
“The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people share a moment of affection that means nothing more, you can’t pay attention to idiocy. We are the champions, that’s it,” he said, according to Radio Marca.
However, government ministers and parts of the media expressed their anger over the gesture.
Acting Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta stated on RNE radio that the kiss was unacceptable and asked Rubiales to explain and apologize.
Acting Gender Equality Minister Irene Montero described a non-consensual kiss as “a form of sexual violence that women endure daily, which was previously invisible, and we cannot normalize it.” She expressed this on the X social network, formerly known as Twitter.
Acting Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra, who belongs to Montero’s party, questioned, “If they do that with all of Spain watching, what might they do privately?”
A column in Spain’s highest-selling newspaper El Pais on Monday morning was titled: “Jenni didn’t like the kiss, and we didn’t either,” describing it as “an intrusion, an invasion of privacy, an aggression.”
Gender issues hold significant importance in Spain. The socialist-led government has implemented various legal reforms regarding gender change, abortion, and sex work. However, a loophole in its sexual consent law resulted in the release of rapists from prison, leading to a significant electoral loss for Montero’s far-left Podemos party in the government coalition in the July election.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Fernando Kallas; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Alison Williams)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
