Shortly after Spain emerged as the victor of the Women’s World Cup, criticism began to pour in for Luis Rubiales, the leader of the country’s national soccer federation. Rubiales drew unwanted attention for his inappropriate behavior during the celebration of Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the final. While on the field during the medal and trophy ceremony, Rubiales grabbed his crotch and kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, seemingly unaware of the presence of 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía. This conduct marred what should have been a momentous occasion for women’s soccer.
The kiss was deemed “deeply lamentable” by FIFPRO, the world players’ union. Rubiales, who had previously led the union’s Spanish affiliate, received backlash from the Spanish government as well. Acting minister for sports and culture Miquel Iceta called it unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips as a form of congratulation. Spanish government equality minister Irene Montero went further, labeling it as a form of sexual violence that women face on a daily basis and should not be normalized.
The incident was particularly shocking given the sport’s history of sexual misconduct allegations against male soccer presidents and coaches involving female players in national teams. Haiti and Zambia, two of the 32 World Cup teams, had to contend with this issue during the tournament’s qualifying rounds. Additionally, the Spain squad experienced internal turmoil last year due to complaints about the culture under coach Jorge Vilda.
After the game, Hermoso collected her medal and Rubiales placed his hands on her head and kissed her on the lips. He also embraced several other players and put his arm around Queen Letizia of Spain. In the dressing room, the players reacted with laughter upon watching the kiss being replayed on a phone. Hermoso can be heard stating that she didn’t like it, but playfully indicated that there was little she could do about it.
The Spanish soccer federation released a statement on behalf of Hermoso, attempting to settle the controversy. Hermoso described the gesture as a spontaneous display of joy and gratitude due to winning the World Cup. FIFPRO, however, took a different stance, emphasizing that such inappropriate conduct during a special moment for the players should not be tolerated, particularly when it comes from someone in a position of power.
Rubiales, who also serves as a UEFA vice president, celebrated the victory in an exclusive section near the queen of Spain and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Video clips captured him jumping with joy and briefly making an inappropriate gesture. Rubiales holds a crucial role in securing hosting rights for the men’s World Cup in 2030 and is expected to influence soccer officials in the coming year.
The response of UEFA and FIFA to Rubiales’s conduct remains unknown as they have yet to comment on the matter.
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