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Luis Rubiales has claimed kissing Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup recently was simply an ‘affectionate mutual gesture’, as he continues to face calls to step down as Spanish football federation president.
Disciplinary proceedings were launched against Rubiales, 46, after he forcibly kissed player Jennifer Hermoso, 33, on the field after Spain defeated England 1-0.
However, he refused to resign from his position, and was instead given a 90-day suspension by FIFA, also being ordered not to contact Hermoso, either directly or through intermediaries.
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Rubiales later argued it was Hermoso who instigated the kiss, saying she was the one who lifted him up during the presentation, branding her a 'liar'.
"Jenni was the one who lifted me up," he said.
"I told her to 'forget about the penalty' and I said to her 'a little peck?' and she said 'OK'."
However, new footage then showed it is seen that Rubiales was the one who lifted his feet off the ground and jumped into the player’s arms.
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Now he has issued a new statement on the matter, saying on Friday evening (1 September) that he denies the ‘aggression’ towards Hermoso, asking for a ‘fair trial in the name of feminism’.
His lengthy statement saw him admit to ‘some obvious mistakes’, asking for forgiveness with ‘humility’ in the hopes of ‘improving’.
“I have learned that no matter how great the joy is and deep the emotion, including a World Cup win, sports leaders should be required to exhibit exemplary behavior, and mine was not,” he wrote.
“Therefore, I reiterate, once again, my apologies for this to the footballers, the federation and other football entities in a clear, emphatic and unmitigated manner. Also to football fans and to all those who may have been offended by my actions.”
But Rubiales said he could continue to ‘defend’ himself based on his version of events.
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“The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consented act, the product of great enthusiasm,” he continued.
“At no time was there any aggression, indeed, there was not even the slightest discomfort, but an overflowing joy in both.
“I repeat: with the consent of both parties, both with affectionate hugs, as well as the kiss and subsequent parting thereafter full of affectionate mutual gestures, which occurred in the medal ceremony on stage.
“Evidence, expert reports, documentation, videos, etc. have been provided and will continue to be provided. Pertinent evidence that proves the reality of what happened. Evidence is not opinions, it’s clear facts.”
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Rubiales said he will continue to ‘collaborate in all areas’, adding that he had ‘suffered an unprecedented political and media lynching’ both nationally and globally.
“I’ll continue to defend myself to prove the truth,” he said.
“I want to send a message to all the good people in our country and beyond our borders, including those women who’ve really been abused, and who have my full support and understanding: this isn’t about gender, it’s about the truth.
“In the name of feminism, it must not be about trying to sink a man - or a woman - without a fair trial. Equality is about identical rights for everyone. Justice must be applied to people without the gender having an impact on the result.”
Hermoso previously said in her own statement that the kiss was not consensual.
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She said: "In the same way I want to reiterate how I did in that moment that what happened was not enjoyable.
"The situation left me in shock because of the context of the celebration, and with the time passed, and those initial feelings being able to sink, I feel the need to denounce this as I feel that no one, in no work space, sporting or social, should be a victim to this type of unconsensual behaviour.
"I felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression, an impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any type of consent from my part. In short, I wasn’t respected."
Jess Hardiman