Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday apologised for kissing star participant Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain received the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales, 45, kissed Hermoso on the lips after she collected her medal, upsetting a right away international response.
“Certainly I made a mistake and I have to acknowledge that,” Rubiales mentioned in a video posted on social media by Spanish tv.
“It was done without any ill intention in a moment of the highest exuberance. Here we saw it as natural and normal but outside it has caused a commotion.”
“I have no choice but to apologise and to learn from this… and when representing the federation take more care,” he mentioned, including that he thought the furore was “idiotic”.
Earlier Spain’s sports activities minister on Monday had demanded that Rubiales apologise.
“I think it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her,” appearing minister Miquel Iceta advised Spanish public radio.
“The first thing he has to do is to give explanations and make apologies, it is the logical and reasonable thing to do,” Iceta mentioned.
The minister added that whereas the 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney was “a moment of intense emotions”, public officers “have to be extremely careful because we are giving a message to society and the message is equal rights, it is respect”.
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‘Spontaneous’
Rubiales on Monday pressured that he had a “magnificent relationship” with Hermoso.
On Sunday, the participant posted a video on Instagram displaying the celebrations within the altering room by which she responded to teasing from team-mates by saying: “I didn’t like it, eh!” whereas laughing.
Later on Sunday the RFEF launched their very own quotes from Hermoso.
“It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings,” Hermoso was quoted as saying.
“The president and I have a great relationship. His behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.
“A gesture of friendship and gratitude cannot be gone over so much, we have won a World Cup and we are not going to deviate from what is important.”
Spain’s preparations for the World Cup had been thrown into disarray final September when 15 gamers despatched an e-mail to the RFEF saying they didn’t need to be thought of for choice.
Their protest was aimed mainly at coach Jorge Vilda and his strategies, together with complaints that he was too strict.
Rubiales supported Vilda and solely three of the 15 had been recalled for the World Cup.
