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Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales refuses to resign despite considerable public backlash after he gave soccer star Jennifer Hermoso a big kiss on the lips after the Spanish women’s team won this year’s Women’s World Cup.
The Spanish women’s team beat England’s women 1-0 on Aug. 20, taking the Women’s World Cup trophy home to Spain.
As the team celebrated the win on the field, Rubiales grabbed the player and gave her a big, passionate kiss.
Spain wants Rubiales kiss row to be ‘MeToo moment’ https://t.co/5annceLDAu
BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 25, 2023
Rubiales initially apologized for the kiss but has since walked that back and said he won’t resign for the spontaneous act. Indeed, he said it was consensual.
“My desire in that moment was exactly the same as if I’d have been kissing one of my daughters,” Rubiales said Friday, ESPN reported. “No more or less. Everybody understands that. It was a spontaneous kiss, mutual, euphoric, and consensual.”
He also says he asked her for the kiss right there on the field.
“In the moment that Jenni arrived, she lifted me up off the ground. We almost fell over. We hugged. I said, ‘Forget about the penalty, you’ve been fantastic, we wouldn’t have won the World Cup without you,’” Rubiales explained. “She said: ‘You’re great.’ I said ‘A kiss?’ and she said: ‘Yes.’”
Hermoso says that the kiss surprised her and that she did not consent to the smooch.
BREAKING: Spanish player Jenni Hermoso has said “in no moment” did she consent to a kiss from Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s football federation.
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???? Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/cyEz7WQ2A4
— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 25, 2023
Comunicado Oficial. Agosto 25, 2023. pic.twitter.com/4OqhqwwJ8P
— Jenn1 Hermos0 (@Jennihermoso) August 25, 2023
The translation of Hermoso’s post is as follows:
Part 1: “After achieving one of the most desired successes of my sporting career and after some days of reflection, I want to thank my teammates, fans, followers, media outlets, and everyone who has made this dream a reality with all my heart; your work and unconditional support have been a fundamental part of winning the World Cup.
