The president of the Spanish FA has stirred significant controversy after a video surfaced of him kissing a player on the lips following the national team’s World Cup victory.
Spain’s women’s team, La Roja, secured a 1-0 win over England to claim the World Cup championship at Stadium Australia. The decisive goal was netted by captain Olga Carmona.
This victory mirrors the achievements of Spain’s men’s team in 2010. However, the women’s team’s success has been achieved in the midst of turmoil, with players boycotting due to disagreements with the federation and manager Jorge Vilda.
It was euphoria in Sydney but there was an uncomfortable moment in the celebrations involving Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales.
The 45-year-old embraced several players on the stage ahead of the official trophy presentation after medals were handed.
Me dicen que este video del presidente de la federación espaÑola de fútbol, Luís Rubiales, no hay que hacerlo rular, y lo están censurando
¿Asqueroso? Es poco pic.twitter.com/A5548h6Eyj
— VIQUI ||☆|| (@viquirepublica) August 20, 2023
Le bisou du président de la fédération espagnole, Luis Rubiales sur la bouche de Jennifer Hermoso🇪🇸❌.
Jennifer Hermoso : 🗣️ “Eh eh mais je n’ai pas aimé le geste, ça ne me plaît pas.” pic.twitter.com/Ldo41TATrt
— Sport Passion Info (@SportsPassionI1) August 20, 2023
But after hugging CF Pachuca’s Jenni Hermoso, who saw a penalty saved by Mary Earps, Rubiales grabbed her by the head and kissed the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player on the lips.
Many fans were disgusted by the scenes and Hermoso herself told Spanish TV, “Eh…yeah, I did not enjoy that.”
Hermoso was nevertheless overcome with emotion after the historic win, telling RTVE: “It’s the best feeling of my life. We dedicate it to all our families and the people in Spain, because we have played football the way we wanted to.
“We have won a World Cup — we are f****** world champions!” We have played the football as we wanted but I still think we are not aware of what we have achieved.”
😭 Pero no nos hagas llorar, Jenni.
La emoción de Jenni Hermoso tras ganar el Mundial pone los pelos de punta. #Legendarias pic.twitter.com/6FI9JAfutm
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) August 20, 2023
Another controversial moment in the medal ceremony saw England right-back Lucy Bronze involved in an extremely awkward exchange with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The Barcelona defender gave a limp handshake to the 53-year-old after collecting her runners up medal and did not appear to give any eye contact until she was faced with other delegates.
Infantino had caused a stir with comments made about women’s football, saying women have “the power to convince us men”.