Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales is facing criticism for giving midfielder Jennifer Hermoso a surprise kiss on the lips after the 33-year-old received her gold medal following the team鈥檚 over England on Sunday.
Rubiales was on stage for FIFA鈥檚 awards ceremony following the final, along with other dignitaries, including soccer鈥檚 world governing body president Gianni Infantino, Spain鈥檚 and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Video shows Rubiales embracing Hermoso, then putting both hands on her head before kissing her. He then pats her on the back as she walks away.
鈥淗ey, I didn鈥檛 like it, eh,鈥� says Hermoso as she apparently answers questions about the incident in an Instagram live video 鈥� a clip of which was shared by Spanish journalist Irati Vida on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Later in the Instagram live video 鈥� taken in Spain鈥檚 locker room 鈥� Hermoso fields a question from another woman: 鈥淏ut what were you doing, sis?鈥� The 33-year-old replies: 鈥淏ut what am I supposed to do?鈥�
Asked by Radio Marca about the incident with Hermoso, Rubiales replied: 鈥淭he kiss with Jenni? There are idiots all over. When two people have a moment of affection without any importance, we can鈥檛 listen to idiocy. We鈥檙e champions and I stay with that.鈥�
However, Alberto Ortega of the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial that, 鈥淩ubiales taking the trophy from the players to give it to Queen Leticia and kissing Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth is simply disgusting.鈥�
鈥淎 new demonstration of the need to suck the camera [be the centre of attention] and be the protagonist when it is not his turn,鈥� added Ortega.
Daily Mirror journalist Colin Millar, who writes about European soccer for the British newspaper, described Rubiales鈥� behaviour as 鈥渘ot OK.鈥�
鈥淭his the highlight of a footballer鈥檚 career and they are highly emotionally charged,鈥� posted .
Hermoso wasn鈥檛 the only Spanish player kissed by Rubiales in the post-match celebrations.
After other members of Spain鈥檚 squad received their medals, video shows Rubiales kissing them on the cheeks as well as holding some of them in his arms.
Another video clip shows Rubiales interrupting a group of Spanish players celebrating, before kissing Olga Carmona, who scored Spain鈥檚 winning goal in the 1-0 victory over England, on the cheek.
In footage posted by Spain star Salma Paralluelo in an Instagram Live, Rubiales is pictured entering the dressing room and telling the Spanish players that the RFEF will pay for a trip to Ibiza for them, and that is where he will marry Hermoso.
CNN has reached out to Hermoso鈥檚 agent about the incident and also the RFEF鈥檚 press officer in Australia for comment, but hadn鈥檛 heard back at the time of publication.
