Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has admitted that kissing a female player on the lips after Spain’s victory in the FIFA Women’s World Cup was a mistake. The incident occurred during the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the final, which took place in Sydney, Australia on Sunday. Rubiales’ actions were captured by cameras and circulated on social media, sparking outrage and calls for his resignation.
Many critics, including Spain’s Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta, have accused Rubiales of sexism and expressed their disappointment in his behavior. Iceta referred to Rubiales’ actions as “unacceptable” in a time when there is a growing emphasis on equality, rights, and respect for women.
In response to the backlash, RFEF released a video clip on Monday in which Rubiales apologized for his behavior and attempted to provide an explanation. He acknowledged his mistake, stating, “I have to accept it. In a moment of such emotion, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened happened, in a very spontaneous way, with no bad faith from either side.”
Rubiales claimed that both he and Jennifer Hermoso, the player he kissed, saw it as a natural and normal gesture due to the excitement of winning the World Cup. However, he recognized that it had caused offense and hurt to some people, and therefore he felt obliged to apologize.
The football chief also admitted that he should have been more careful, particularly considering his position as an official representative. He acknowledged that the incident had taught him a lesson about the importance of exercising caution in such situations. Rubiales is also a member of UEFA’s ruling executive committee.
Hermoso, the player involved in the incident, initially expressed her dissatisfaction with Rubiales’ actions. However, in a subsequent interview, she described the kiss as a “totally spontaneous mutual gesture” driven by the immense joy of winning the World Cup.
In addition to apologizing for his behavior, Rubiales addressed the derogatory comments he made about his critics. He had referred to them as “idiots and stupid people” before boarding his flight out of Australia. In the video clip, he clarified that his remarks were a result of his belief that the criticism seemed unimportant within the team but acknowledged that it had been significant to those on the outside. He offered his apologies to anyone who had been offended by his comments.
Rubiales expressed regret that the incident had overshadowed the celebrations of Spain’s historic victory in women’s football, which he described as the greatest success in the country’s history.
Despite Rubiales’ apology, there have been ongoing calls for his resignation. Critics argue that his actions and subsequent remarks highlight deep-rooted issues of sexism and a lack of respect within the footballing community. As discussions around gender equality continue to gain momentum, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for women in sports.
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