Luis Rubiales.Photo:Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

Luis Rubiales, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation looks on prior to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match between Spain and Sweden

Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s soccer federation, was criticized Sunday for his “inappropriate” behavior after the women’s national teamwon the World Cupthis weekend.Rubiales, 45, kissed veteran player Jenni Hermoso on the lips as the team celebrated its first-ever World Cup win. In other videos, Rubiales was also seen kissing several other players on the face during their celebration and he was also seen grabbing his crotch in the crowd after the team’s win.In the locker room afterwards, Hermoso, 33, was seen in an Instagram video shouting to other players “I didn’t like it,” according toThe Associated PressandBBC.

The Spanish football federation later released a statement on behalf of Hermoso calling the kiss “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture” that happened while celebrating the World Cup.

“It was the emotion of the moment,” Hermoso thentold Cadena COPEin an interview. “There’s nothing else there. It’s no big deal.”

Others didn’t see Rubiales’ actions that way, however, including the international players’ union and the country’s equality minister.

“It is a form of sexual violence that women suffer on a daily basis, and which has been invisible so far, and which we should not normalize,” Irene Montero, the government’s equality minister,posted to X(formerly known as Twitter).

Montero added: “Consent in the center. Only yes is yes.”

Rubiales himself initiallyappeared to dismiss these concerns on a radio show, before filming an apology video.

Luis Rubiales.Catherine Ivill/Getty

Luis Rubiales, President of the Royal Spanish Federation greets Aitana Bonmati of Spain after the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia

Catherine Ivill/Getty

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Rubiales was also slammed on social media for a video showing him grabbing his crotch in celebration of the team’s win, just a couple seats away from Spain’s Queen Latizia and Princess Infanta Sofía, who is 16.Spain won its first ever Women’s World Cup tournament this weekend with a 1-0 win over England.

source: people.com