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 present on stage at the FIFA awards ceremony after the 2023 Women's World Cup final on August 20 with other officials, 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, placed both hands on his head and kissed him on the lips. Then the RFEF President patted him on the back as the number 11 left.
Rubiales in the moment of kissing Hermoso. Screenshot
Rubiales appears to be romantically involved with Hermoso. In a live video posted on Instagram by winger Salma Paralluelo, Rubiales entered the dressing room after the final and told the Spain players that the RFEF would pay for their trip to Ibiza, where he would marry Hermoso.
CNN has contacted 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 didn'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 behavior. "We are champions and that is what I care about," the RFEF president added.
The moment Rubiales kissed Hermoso is going viral 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". Reporter Colin Millar of the Daily Mirror emphasized 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, 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, trained at Atletico youth academy, 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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