Spanish FA President Rubiales in hot water after kissing World Cup-winner Hermoso on the lip

Sports

TBS Report
20 August, 2023, 11:35 pm
Last modified: 20 August, 2023, 11:52 pm
Hermoso, who starred for Spain up top, was one of the first to collect her prize - but there was outrage when she was kissed on the lips by the president of the Spanish FA.

Spanish striker Jenni Hermoso has admitted she didn't enjoy Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissing her on the lips after the Women's World Cup final.

English hearts were broken by Spain on Sunday - as Olga Carmona netted the only goal of the game to hand the Spanish their first ever Women's World Cup. However, there was controversy after the game, when the Spanish side were collecting their medals.

Hermoso, who starred for Spain up top, was one of the first to collect her prize - but there was outrage when she was kissed on the lips by the president of the Spanish FA. Speaking after the incident, Hermoso admitted: "Eh...yeah, I did not enjoy that."

Rubiales is hardly a man to shy away from controversy - and in the past he's been accused of derogatory comments about some Spanish teams, as well as having to deny allegations of hosting orgies with FA money.

Ahead of collecting her medal, Hermoso had delivered an emotional interview to Spanish TV: "It's the best feeling of my life. We dedicate it to all our families and the people in Spain, because we have played football the way we wanted to.

"We have won a World Cup — we are f***ing world champions!" We have played the football as we wanted but I still think we are not aware of what we have achieved."

"Like Rubiales, like Vilda. There's a reason Vilda hasn't been dismissed. Rubiales is just as troublesome. Vile," one fan fumed.

"This is absolutely disgraceful, the greatest moment in her career and he feels he has the right to grab her & kiss her? Because he's FA President," a second added. While a third tweeted: "Vilda can leave/ get fired but there's always going to be issues if a federation thinks that's ok..."

And another added: "Are these the people we expect to fire Vilda?"

Rubiales has already come under fire this Women's World Cup, after he backed Spanish boss Jorge Vilda. Last September, 15 players wrote to the Spanish federation to declare themselves unavailable for selection due to the conditions in the national set-up.

Six of those players have since travelled to the World Cup. And Rubiales hit back ahead of the final: "What we have endured is a lot.

"Questions have been asked of Jorge Vilda, who is a hard-working man, a world-class coach, who has turned down other federations that have offered more money and stayed with Spain.

"We have stuck with those that have always wanted to be here, that have valued the great work that he has done to grow, and we have forgotten the people with resentments.

"He has continued working and not paid attention to those who wanted to destroy him."

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