AUGUST 22TH, MADRID (Reuters) – Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Tuesday that the public apologies of the head of the Spanish soccer federation for his unwanted kiss of national player Jenni Hermoso amid celebrations of Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup was “not enough.”
The event, which took place when Luis Rubiales presented the women’s team with gold medals following their 1-0 victory against England in the final on Sunday, provoked fury both inside and outside of Spain, with many calling for Rubiales’ resignation, including politicians.
At a press conference, Sanchez stated, “We have seen his apology, and that is not enough; he must be much clearer and convincing in his apologizing.” He has to do more to explain his bad behavior.
The federation, according to Sanchez, is independent of the Spanish government, which has no authority to choose or remove the federation’s president.
Hermoso made a remark to her teammates in the locker room after the kiss, which was planted on her lips as Rubiales cupped her face in post-game celebrations.
She said, “Hey, I didn’t like it,” according to video footage that several media sources uploaded on Instagram and YouTube.
She subsequently clarified the situation in a statement released by the federation, though.
Rubiales originally referred to his detractors as “idiots” but later on Monday, as the backlash grew, he delivered a video apology.
The federation handed Rubiales a video statement in which he said, “Surely I was wrong.” “At the height of effusiveness, it was without malice.”
In Spain, gender issues have recently gained a lot of attention. A number of legislation reforms, including those pertaining to equal pay, abortion, sex work, and transgender rights, have been implemented under the leadership of the socialist coalition government.
The hard-left party Podemos, which was in control of the Equality Ministry and wrote the law, lost support in the municipal elections in May as a result of a sentencing gap in a sexual consent statute that permitted some rapists to be freed from prison early.
