Kiss scandal after world title
Association boss probably wanted to urge Hermoso to make an “explanation video”.
8/22/2023 8:56 p.m
The kiss scandal after the World Cup final, it seems, will haunt the Spanish Football Association for a long time. First, the Prime Minister explains that the apology from the head of the association is not enough. Then a media report raises doubts about the communication of the association.
In the affair surrounding the kiss after the World Cup final, the head of the Spanish Football Association, Luis Rubiales, is coming under increasing pressure. At the reception of the world champions in Madrid, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the apology of the association boss. “What we have seen is unacceptable,” said Sánchez. “And Mr. Rubiales’ apologies are not enough, I would call them inappropriate, so he must take further steps to clarify what we have all seen.” It is not up to him whether Rubiales should remain president of the Spanish Football Association, said Prime Minister Sánchez.
Rubiales hugged and hugged the Spanish players in Sunday’s 1-0 win over England after winning the title. Videos showed how the association boss also kissed the offensive player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth after a hug and two kisses on the cheek. Initial statements from Hermoso indicated that this was not consensual. The 33-year-old said later when asked about the scene: “I didn’t like it.” In another video, she asked, “What should I have done?”
Report casts doubt on citations
A Spanish media report However, citing several sources, hints at how communication within the Spanish Football Federation is said to have taken place. In an RFEF press release shortly after the incident, Hermoso defended the head of the association, Rubiales. “It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that comes with winning a World Cup,” she was quoted there as saying: “The President and I have a very good relationship, his behavior towards us was excellent, and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.” This should “not be so much overrated”.
As the online portal Relevo reports, the quotes published by the association did not appear to come from Hermoso. Rather, it was the case that the communications department first wrote the alleged statement in a hurry and later had it distributed. Hermoso, it is said, did not make such a statement.
With the statement, the association tried to recapture the criticism that had already broken in on social media about the president. He expressed his outrage even a short time after winning the title. On “Radio Marca” he scolded the critics and made it clear that he did not see the incident as problematic. “The kiss with Jenni? There are jerks everywhere. When two people show a little affection, we can’t listen to jerks,” he said. “We are champions and I stand by that.”
Attempting an “explanatory video”
But apparently his perspective later changed. And Hermoso is said to have continued unpleasantly on the return flight from Australia to Doha, Qatar. As Relevo further reports, Rubiales is said to have tried on board the machine to convince the world champion to make a kind of “explanatory video”. Both should stand together in front of the camera at Doha Airport.
When he asked, Rubiales is said to have admitted that his job was at stake. However, Hermoso reportedly declined to record such a video. You just wanted to talk about winning the title. According to Relevo, after Rubiales failed to persuade, controversial coach Jorge Vilda tried to persuade the world champion. That too without success.
Rubiales finally released a video yesterday Monday. Alone, without Hermoso. In it, he acknowledged his mistakes. He kissed Hermoso on the mouth “spontaneously” and “without any bad intentions or bad will”. “Here we all took it as something natural, normal, but outside there seems to have been an uproar,” he explained. “I have to apologize, there’s no way around it. And I have to learn from that and understand that as the president of an institution as important as the RFEF, you have to be more careful, especially with ceremonies and these kinds of things.” Since then, this apology has again been criticized by many as insufficient.