After winning the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, who was criticized for suddenly kissing a player from his country, eventually officially apologized.
“I made a mistake,” said Rubiales, through a video released by the Spanish Football Association to media outlets such as ESPN on the 21st (local time).
However, “the wave has grown outside. Because the scene hurt the hearts of many people,” he said. “For this, I must apologize. I will learn more from this situation and remind myself again that as the head of an organization, I must act prudently. “he added.
President Rubiales also said that it was regrettable that the controversy that arose because of his actions immediately after the national team had achieved great results was getting more attention.
“(Winning the World Cup) is the biggest success women’s football has had in our history, so it’s even sadder. I want to celebrate Spain’s second victory (both men and women), and this has an impact,” he said.
On the 20th, the Spanish women’s national soccer team beat England 1-0 in the final of the tournament held at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, and enjoyed the excitement of winning the World Cup for the first time in history.
However, during the awards ceremony that followed, President Rubiales hugged midfielder Henifer Hermoso, who came up to the podium, then held his face with both hands and kissed him.
Later, in the locker room, a scene in which Hermoso laughed at a related question during a live performance through Instagram and said, “I wasn’t in a good mood” was shared through social media such as X (X, old Twitter), causing a stir.
Afterwards, Hermoso belatedly supported President Rubiales, saying, “It was an expression of intimacy” through the Spanish Football Association.
Hermoso said, “There was great joy from winning the World Cup and it was a natural movement,” and “There is no problem with the relationship with the president.”
However, major foreign media all criticized Rubiales’ actions as being close to sexual violence in a broad sense as it was ‘physical contact without consent’.
El Pais, the leading Spanish daily newspaper, said, ‘Hermoso did not like Rubiales’ kiss. We set the day of criticism through an editorial titled ‘So are we’.
Elpais pointed out, “The president of the Spanish Football Association could say it was a misunderstanding, but suddenly kissing someone on the mouth is an ‘attack'” and “a ‘thief kiss’ doesn’t always come as a surprise and pleasant. On the contrary, it is an infringement.” did.토토사이트
Spain’s Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, also criticized through X that “don’t take kissing without consent as a matter of course,” and “it’s part of sexual violence that women experience on a daily basis.”
President Rubiales has been at the center of the controversy surrounding the Spanish women’s national team.
In September of last year, 15 key players in Spain suddenly protested and expressed their intention to ‘boycott’, saying that the coaching method of current head coach Jorge Villa was coercive.
Despite the opposition from the players, it was President Rubiales who showed firm trust in coach Bilda to keep his position.
On the one hand, President Ruby Ales has emphasized support for female athletes in his official appearances.
In an interview with Yonhap News during his visit to Korea in March, he said, “The goal of Spanish football is for the men’s and women’s national teams to advance side by side without discrimination.”
