Luis Rubiales: Spanish Football Boss Offers Apology for Unexpected Kiss to Jenni Hermoso Following Spain’s World Cup Victory

Luis Rubiales, the head honcho of the Spanish football federation, has found himself in a bit of a lip-lock pickle. You see, after Spain triumphed in the Women’s World Cup with a resounding 1-0 victory over England, Rubiales planted an unexpected smooch right on Jenni Hermoso’s lips during the celebratory presentation ceremony.

Now, don’t get me wrong, surprises are great. But it seems not everyone was on board with this impromptu display of affection. Hermoso, the Spain forward who found herself at the receiving end of this unexpected lip-lock, expressed her feelings on Instagram, saying, “I didn’t like it.” But hold on to your soccer balls, because her statement didn’t end there.

A statement released later on Hermoso’s behalf took the defensive stance, essentially giving Rubiales a “get out of the kiss controversy” card. In the name of solidarity, it seems like they’ve got his back. But wait, what’s this? On Monday, there it was—the grand moment of truth. Rubiales himself stood up and admitted, “I was completely wrong, I have to admit it.” Bravo for owning up to it, Mr. Rubiales! Let’s dive into the saga a bit further.

Rubiales went on to say, “It was without bad intention at a time with a lot of excitement. In the moment, we saw it as natural, but outside a commotion has formed. I have to apologise, learn from this, and understand that when you are president you have to be more careful.” Oh, the perils of being a president, where even a misplaced kiss can lead to quite the commotion!

This kiss caper didn’t only stir up emotions on the football field but also in the political and social arenas. Some Spanish government ministers raised their eyebrows at Rubiales’ gesture. Spain’s equalities minister Irene Montero even termed it a form of “sexual violence women suffer on a daily basis.” Heavy stuff, right? And there’s more: Spain’s sports minister Miquel Iceta called it “unacceptable,” and even advised Rubiales to give explanations and apologies, which, well, makes sense.

But hold onto your soccer scarves, because there’s another side to this tale. The Spanish football federation chimed in with a statement where Hermoso backed up Rubiales’ case. She referred to the smooch as a “natural gesture of affection.” Ah, a love-hate relationship with this kiss, it seems. Hermoso went on to explain, “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings.” Talk about mixed signals, huh?

Just when you thought the plot couldn’t thicken further, here comes a twist. Video footage making the rounds on the internet showed Rubiales not only kissing but also, wait for it, grabbing his own groin as he celebrated the victory. Now, that’s an interesting victory dance! No wonder this caught the attention of both Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Queen Letizia of Spain, who were seated nearby in the VIP section. Well, talk about getting carried away in the moment!

Of course, the internet didn’t let this escapade slide unnoticed. Social media went ablaze, and before you know it, ‘dimision ya’ (which translates to ‘resign now’) was trending on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in Spain. Rubiales, being the man of words, labeled those who criticized his actions as “idiots and stupid people.” Well, if there’s one way to make the situation even more interesting, it’s by adding a little bit of fiery commentary.

Spanish newspaper El Pais didn’t hold back either, with the headline “Jenni didn’t like Rubiales’ kiss, neither did we.” Ouch, that’s got to sting. But hey, at least they’re getting creative with their headlines. The Spanish football federation, despite all the drama, continued to back coach Jorge Vilda, who managed to steer his ship through the storm of a player revolt. The players had some “significant” concerns over their “emotional state” and “health,” which led to quite the email chain, apparently.

In the end, amidst the controversy, Spain emerged victorious in the Women’s World Cup, and the drama, well, it just adds a little extra flavor to the mix. Whether it’s kisses, groin grabs, or player revolts, one thing’s for sure: Spanish football knows how to keep us on our toes, both on and off the field. So, let’s enjoy the goals, the drama, and everything in between, because in the world of sports, there’s never a dull moment.

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More about Lip-Locking Controversy

• Luis Rubiales apologizes for kissing Jenni Hermoso
• Jenni Hermoso’s Instagram statement
• Rubiales’ explanation and apology
• Spanish government ministers’ reactions
• ‘Dimision ya’ trends on social media
• Spanish football federation’s statement
• Jenni Hermoso clarifies the incident
• Rubiales’ dismissal of critics
• El Pais headline about the incident
• Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup
• Challenges faced by Spain’s Women’s World Cup team