Spanish Football Federation President Criticized for Controversial Behavior with Jennifer Hermoso

Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales has been criticized for his controversial behavior with Spain star Jennifer Hermoso after winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Historic Victory for Spain

Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history at the expense of their English counterpart, beating them with a single goal from striker Olga Carmona 29 minutes into the first half of the match, which took place at the Australian Stadium in Sydney.

Rubiales’ Inappropriate Actions

45-year-old Luis Rubiales, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was present at the presentation of gold medals to the players of the Spanish national team. However, Rubiales unexpectedly hugged Jennifer Hermoso and then kissed her even more arousingly in front of everyone, leading to harsh criticism for his behavior.

Hermoso’s Reaction

According to Spanish football reporter Colin Millar, Hermoso, a 33-year-old player, expressed her discomfort after the incident, stating, “Uh…yeah, I didn’t like it.”

Comparison to the 2010 Incident

The incident involving Rubiales and Hermoso drew comparisons to what happened in 2010, when the Spanish men’s team won the World Cup for the first time in South Africa. At that time, the team’s goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, kissed his girlfriend Sarah Carbonero warmly during a press interview. However, the key difference is that Carbonero and Casillas were already known to be dating, whereas Rubiales has no stated relationship with Hermoso.

Hermoso’s Remarks on Instagram

After the match, during a livestream on her Instagram account as part of the celebration, one of Hermoso’s teammates mentioned the kiss, and the player responded, “Yes, but I didn’t like it.”

Source: media