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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Spain FA chief ordered to apologise for kissing World Cup star Jenni Hermoso on the lips

The president of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales, has been ordered to apologise for kissing World Cup star Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

Rubisles lifted Hermoso off her feet with a hug and then placed his hands behind her head and pulled her in for a kiss on the lips after she received her winner’s medal on Sunday. The 33-year-old said afterward that she “did not enjoy” the incident.

Spain's Minister for Culture and Sport Miquel Iceta told radio station Las Mananas de RNE: "I find it unacceptable... we live in a moment of equality, rights and respect for women. We all have to be especially careful in our attitudes and our actions.

"I believe that it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her. From what I have seen, I think it must be said that we all deserve respect."

Iceta was asked about Rubiales resigning over the incident, to which he responded: "The first thing you have to do is explain and not make excuses. That is logical and reasonable.

"Those of us who have public responsibilities have to be extremely careful because we are giving a message to society and the message is: 'Equal rights is respect'. Any circumstance that could be interpreted in terms differently must be avoided."

Footage from the dressing room, broadcast live via Spain forward Salma Paralluelo’s Instagram account showed Rubiales entering the players' dressing room where he told the squad they are to fly to Ibizia where he will marry Hermoso.

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