Spanish football boss makes joke after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the World Cup
Luis Rubiales, the Spanish football federation president, has joked about the controversial kiss he gave to Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso.
If you didn't catch the final yesterday (20 August) we're definitely not getting that bank holiday after Spain beat England 1-0 thanks to a first half goal from Olga Carmona.
It was a close run thing, due in part to some penalty saving heroics from the magnificent Mary Earps, who was not going to let Jennifer Hermoso put one past her.
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However, England could not find a goal to level things up and after over 13 minutes of extra time at the end of the game the final whistle blew to hand the World Cup to Spain.
Winning the World Cup involves much pomp and ceremony, and one part in particular drew controversy and criticism after Hermoso was kissed on the lips by Rubiales.
Me dicen que este video del presidente de la federación espaÑola de fútbol, Luís Rubiales, no hay que hacerlo rular, y lo están censurando
— VIQUI ||☆|| (@viquirepublica) August 20, 2023
¿Asqueroso? Es poco pic.twitter.com/A5548h6Eyj
Footage of the trophy celebrations with the Spanish players accepting their medals drew criticism due to the way Rubiales acted.
If you've seen a cup final in football you'll know how this is supposed to go, players go down the line shaking hands and possibly hugging a few people while they get their medals placed around their neck.
Rubiales was criticised for going a step further, with several hugs and kisses on the cheek for Spain's victorious women, and when Hermoso got to him he hugged her before putting both hands on her head and kissing her on the lips.
When later asked about the kiss Hermoso said: "Er... yeah. I did not enjoy that."
She also said in an Instagram Live that she 'didn't like it', while footage from inside the dressing room taken by Salma Paralluelo of the players trying to convince Rubiales to give them a holiday as a reward showed he made a joke about the kiss.
In the video the Spanish football federation president said the Spanish team could go to Ibiza for a holiday and joked: "and there, we'll celebrate my wedding with Jenni."
Nobody laughed at his joke harder than himself.
Another moment from the medal ceremony which people found particularly noteworthy was the frosty interaction between Lucy Bronze and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
She didn't bother looking at him and gave him the most cursory of handshakes, with plenty wondering whether it had anything to do with his tone deaf comments about reaching equality in football.
Infantino had said: "Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights. You have the power to change.
"You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it. Just do it. With men, with FIFA, you will find open doors. Just push the doors. They are open.
"And do it also at national level, in every country, at continental level, in every confederation. Just keep pushing, keep the momentum, keep dreaming, and let’s really go for a full equality."
Joe Harker