Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has refused to resign after he was caught kissing Jenni Hermoso, a player on the Spanish women’s national team, on the lips during a medal ceremony following the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final.
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 21, after Spain defeated England 1-0 in the final. As Hermoso was receiving her gold medal, Rubiales stepped forward and kissed her on the lips. The kiss was caught on camera and quickly went viral, sparking a wave of criticism of Rubiales.
Rubiales initially apologized for the kiss, saying that it was “a spontaneous gesture” and that he “did not mean to offend anyone.” However, he has since refused to resign, saying that he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists.”
“I am not going to resign,” Rubiales said in a statement. “I have done nothing wrong. The kiss was consensual and it was not intended to be sexual in nature. I am being subjected to a social assassination by people who are trying to undermine my authority.”
Rubiales’s refusal to resign has met with mixed reactions. Some people have supported him, saying that the kiss was a harmless gesture and that he should not be forced to resign. Others have called for him to step down, saying that his actions were inappropriate and that he has lost the trust of the public.
The RFEF is currently investigating the incident. FIFA, the world governing body of football, has also said that it is “monitoring the situation.”
It remains to be seen whether Rubiales will be forced to resign. However, the controversy has undoubtedly damaged his reputation and put his future as RFEF president in doubt.
