Spain Coach Apologises For Applauding Controversial Luis Rubiales Speech

01.09.2023 - 20:07 sports.ndtv.com

Spain men's coach Luis de la Fuente apologised Friday for applauding football federation president Luis Rubiales' speech last week in which he said he would not resign, after his forcible kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. "I have to say sorry, I made a mistake, it's inexcusable," De la Fuente told a news conference.

Rubiales, 46, sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Hermoso during the Women's World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) chief provoked further ire with a defiant speech at an emergency meeting in which he refused to resign despite mounting pressure and instead railed against "false feminism", which De la Fuente applauded.

Rubiales insisted his kiss was consensual, but Hermoso said it was not and she felt like the "victim of an assault". World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after which De la Fuente published a statement criticising the president's behaviour.

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Five days after resigning as Spain's football chief, Luis Rubiales appeared before a judge on Friday investigating a complaint of sexual assault over forcibly kissing women's World Cup player Jenni Hermoso. His hearing came as the World Cup-winning footballers said they would continue their boycott of the national team unless there are more reforms at the Spanish football federation, despite Rubiales' resignation over the affair. Dozens of journalists were on hand as the 46-year-old left Madrid's Audiencia Nacional court after he was questioned by Judge Francisco de Jorge who is heading up the investigation.

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