Fans online voiced their outrage, calling the kiss an 'abuse of power' during a historic moment for the Spanish team.
Jenni Hermoso was kissed on the lips by Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales shortly after this embrace.Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales is being condemned online after grabbing and kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the post-match medal presentation.
Hermoso, who helped the team achieve its first Women's World Cup title on Sunday night in Sydney, had been hugging Rubiales before he grabbed her head, kissed her on the lips and patted her back. The moment stirred controversy online, with former Socceroo Craig Foster calling the moment 'horrific' on X and urging FIFA and the Spanish FA to stand Rubiales down.
"Women in sport are daily subject to an extreme power differential, objectification, harassment, sexual abuse and an absence of agency and power," Foster said.In later comments, made to the AFP via the Spanish Federation, Hermosa played down the incident, saying, “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings."
“The president and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude."“The kiss with Jenni? Idiots are everywhere,” he said in response to the criticism.But fans online voiced disappointment and upset at the gesture."Any wins the women made was in spite of their management, not because of management," said another fan online.
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