Guilt, apologies and other provocations: the reversal of the Spanish FA president’s controversial kiss to Jenni Hermoso

Spain wins Women’s World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand. The happiness of the Iberian women is mixed with enormous grief: the father of Olga Carmona, who scored the goal that gave the European Reds victory over England, had died before the match. In the celebration, in addition, a controversial situation arises. In full view and with the patience of the whole world, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish federation, kisses Jenni Hermoso, the main figure of the team, on the mouth. He takes his face in both hands to do so.

The gesture takes little time to go viral and add widespread rejection. This is an obvious and reprehensible excess of the leader. Initially, at least, the footballer did not find it funny. “But what am I doing? I didn’t like it, huh! “, he posted on his social networks, validating the anger that was already sweeping the entire planet. At that time there were already reactions for all tastes. And at all levels. Rubiales was against the wall.

Spanish Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta led the rebuke. “That seems unacceptable to me. We are living a sporting event… but we are also living a moment of equality. We live in a moment of rights and respect for women. We must therefore all be particularly careful in our attitudes and actions. I think it’s unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her,” he said.

Iceta demanded concrete actions. “I think the first thing to do is to explain yourself and find excuses. I think it’s logical and reasonable, because it’s really true that the moment that was lived in Sydney was a very special moment. “, he underlined.

“Those of us with public responsibilities must be extremely careful because we are sending a message to the public and that message is equal rights, respect, and as such we must avoid any circumstances that could be interpreted in a way that is not “, wide. For Iceta, the example of Rubiales is disastrous: “That we don’t show that the person in charge can force a kiss, that can’t happen. … What I would like is to listen to his reasoning and that ‘he’s apologizing because probably when he sees the footage he’ll realize maybe he was lost at the time,’ Iceta concluded.

Rubiales reacted in different tones. At first, aggressively. “Let’s ignore the idiots and the stupid. A pic of two friends celebrating something. There were others, not mine, but those of others. We are not for assholes , really,” he said in an interview with ‘El partidazo de COPE’. “Me, with all that I’ve been through, more bullshit and more bullshit no… Let’s enjoy the good and don’t talk to me about losing things They don’t know how to see the positive”, he insisted. “It’s something that has no harm, it’s nonsense… That there are people who waste their time to be world champions… If there are fools, let them continue with their nonsense, I will pass “, he pointed out.

Then he tried again to focus his attention on athletic achievement. ” Long live Spain. We have the best in the world, that’s what we have to talk about and not other things. I’m very happy, really happy to celebrate with one friend giving him a bite and with another giving him a hug and whatever it takes. We are very happy,” he said.

As the hours passed, however, he had to back off. And certainly offer excuses for their behavior. “I have to apologise. I must have been wrong, I must admit. It was without bad faith in a time of maximum effusion. Here it was not understood because we saw it natural but outside an unrest has formed, ”he said, through a video released by the federation.

Of course, he insisted on his original approach. “This was done without bad faith by either party but on the outside it seems a commotion has been created and there have been people who have felt aggrieved so i have to apologize there is no other option, and learn from it because the president of an institution as important as the federation in this type of ceremonies has You have to be more careful, ”he said.

He also apologized to those he offended for the interpretation they gave to the act. “There are also some of my statements in which, in this context I say it sounded stupid to me the fuss and I said it because here, here, we didn’t give importance to it, so I apologize for that as well,” he said.

The case ends in a striking way. It is the footballer herself who comes out to clarify the situation and reduce its intensity, although it should be noted that the support is provided by the federation led by Rubiales. “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that a victory in the World Cup brings. The prez and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has been ten and It was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude. “says the athlete.

However, neither his words nor those of the leader succeed in attenuating the controversy too much. In fact, another controversial action of the director had already been revealed, in the same meeting, in the middle of the official gallery and a few meters from Queen Letizia and the Infanta Sofía: in the middle of the euphoria, and the effusion with which he lived the moment, he took his genitals as a sign of provocation .

Rubiales has other controversial actions to his credit. 48 hours before the start of the World Cup in Russia, learning that the coach had reached an agreement to take charge of Real Madrid, he sacked Julen Lopetegui. Fernando Hierro had to stand on the edge of the playing field. In Spain, his recurring disagreements with Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, are also noticeable.

Another of his contested actions was the concession of the organization of the local Super Cup to Kosmos, the producer of former footballer Gerard Pique. The trophy is now disputed in Saudi Arabia.

His mandate, which lasts until 2024, is constantly questioned. “Not a quiet week “, he said, summing up his management. “Because I have accumulated over 25 complaints from a continuous campaign of erosion, usury and total discredit “, he synthesized.