The moment Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final on August 20 caused outrage in Spanish public opinion.
In the video posted by RFEF on August 21, Rubiales began by affirming that Spanish football had just reached a historic milestone and was experiencing one of its happiest days.
`There is one thing I regret very much and that is what happened between me and a female player, with whom I have a great relationship, as well as other members of the team,` Rubiales continued about the kiss.
The head of RFEF considered the spontaneous moment with Hermoso normal, but still had to apologize in the face of a wave of criticism.
Rubiales sees this as a lesson and must learn from it and be more careful, especially in celebrations and similar complicated issues, as the head of Spanish football.
Rubiales kisses Jennifer Hermoso
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips during the Spanish women’s coronation ceremony after the 2023 World Cup final on August 20.
A day earlier, on Radio Marca, Rubiales said that kissing Hermoso was just `two people showing affection in a gentle way` and did not care about `stupid people`, referring to those who were outraged by the behavior.
`I want to apologize to these people, because if things are viewed differently, they certainly have their own reasons,` he said.
The RFEF President also regretted that the incident caused unnecessary noise on the day Spain made history by winning the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Rubiales was present on stage at the FIFA awards ceremony after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final on August 20 with other officials, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Queen Letizia of Spain and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The incident caused Rubiales to face a wave of criticism.
Rubiales is a former player who grew up in the Atletico youth academy, won the Spanish Second Division championship with Levante in 2004 and played in La Liga.
After retiring in 2009, Rubiales was elected President of the Spanish Players Association and then elected President of RFEF in May 2018.