Apology not enough: Spain PM Pedro Sanchez lambasts FA president Luis Rubiales after kiss controversy

Spanish soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales’ public apology for his unsolicited kiss of national player Jenni Hermoso during celebrations of Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup has been deemed insufficient by acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, 22 August.

The incident took place as Luis Rubiales presented the women’s team with gold medals following their 1-0 triumph over England in the final on Sunday. The incident sparked outrage both within and outside Spain, leading to calls for Rubiales’ resignation, including from ministers.

Sanchez voiced his stance during a news conference, stating, “We’ve seen his apology and that’s not enough, he must be much clearer and convincing in apologising. He must take more steps to clarify a behaviour that is unacceptable.” He emphasized that the Spanish government lacks the authority to appoint or dismiss the president of the federation, as it operates independently.

Hermoso’s immediate reaction to the kiss, which was planted on her lips as Rubiales held her face in his hands during post-game celebrations, was expressed to her teammates in the locker room: “Hey, I didn’t like it,” she remarked, as per video footage disseminated on Instagram and YouTube by several media sources.

However, she later downplayed the incident in a statement released through the federation.

Amidst growing criticism, Rubiales issued an apology in a video late on Monday, retracting his initial labeling of critics as “idiots.” In the video statement provided by the federation, Rubiales admitted, “Surely I was wrong, I have to admit. It was without bad faith at a time of maximum effusiveness.”

Gender-related issues have emerged as a prominent topic in Spain over recent years. The ruling Socialist-led coalition government has enacted numerous legal reforms related to matters like equal pay, abortion, sex work, and transgender rights.

However, a legal loophole in a sexual consent law led to the early release of certain individuals convicted of rape. This resulted in significant setbacks for the hard-left party Podemos, responsible for the Equality Ministry that crafted the law, during local elections in May.