News

Spanish Soccer President Decided to Grab his Crotch and then Mouth Kiss a Player

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Aug 21st, 2023 · 11:22 AM EDT

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Spain won the women’s World Cup.

The President of their country’s soccer association is this guy named Luis Rubiales, and he decided to grab his crotch and then mouth kiss one of the players:

Spanish Federation President Luis Rubiales grabs his crotch in the moment of Spanish victory in the VVIP Section, where he was seated besides members of the Spanish Royal Family. He would proceed to kiss Jenni Hermoso on the mouth during the trophy presentation. Hermoso later… pic.twitter.com/cSF9dlNk2p

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 21, 2023

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales unexpectedly kissed female player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup championship award ceremony yesterday.

Jennifer Hermoso later confirmed to reporters that she was not comfortable with that. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/oFodQIy2Vf

— unknownshane (@unknownshane1) August 21, 2023

Aight man chill out. Jeez.

He apologized (via Alex Kirkland at ESPN FC) – 

Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has apologised for kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso during the celebration after Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final, saying: “I made a mistake, for sure” amid widespread criticism of his postmatch behaviour.

Rubiales greeted Hermoso on the podium by grabbing her head in his hands and kissing her on the lips. He initially responded to the criticism by saying those who condemned his actions are “idiots” but recognised in a statement on Monday that “people have felt hurt by it.”

“I made a mistake, for sure,” Rubiales said in a video released to the media. “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. [There was] no bad faith from either side.

Trying to think of an American sports parallel here. Imagine back in the day if Jackie Joyner-Kersee had just claimed 1988 Olympic gold in the long jump, then the guy running U.S. Track and Field put two hands on her head and mouth kissed her at the podium. Gross! A doofus lecher. People would be calling for that guy’s head, as they are with Rubiales now. A lot of folks want this guy fired, and look, obviously different countries and different cultures view these kinds of things from various standpoints, but the player, Hermoso, initially said she didn’t enjoy Rubiales’ actions. Later, she was included in a statement downplaying that incident, a statement that people seem to think is insincere and/or coerced –

Spain’s football federation president Luis Rubiales has been criticised for kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso on the lips after her side won the Women’s World Cup ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/AStGXeCxNa

— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) August 21, 2023