Spanish football president embroiled in kiss controversy

The Spanish football federation president has been criticised by government ministers in the country for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations of their Women's World Cup victory.

Hermoso was heard telling team-mates afterward in the dressing room she "didn't like it" in a video posted on Instagram and YouTube.

The kiss happened as Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish federation, distributed gold medals among the team following their 1-0 victory over England on Sunday.

Hermoso later played down the incident in a statement sent to Spanish news agency EFE by the federation.

"It was mutual gesture that was totally spontaneous prompted by the huge joy of winning a World Cup," the statement said. "The 'presi' and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has always been 10 (out of 10) and this was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude."

Asked again about the incident on Spain's COPE Radio station, she said: "I wish they created (controversy) involving someone else, I'm a world champion and that’s what matters."

Rubiales meanwhile denounced those raising questions as "idiots".

"The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that means nothing more, you can't listen to idiocy. We are the champions, that's it," he said according to Radio Marca.

However, ministers and parts of the media were angry at the gesture.

Acting Culture and Sports Minister Miquel Iceta said on Monday on RNE radio the kiss was unacceptable and asked Rubiales to give an explanation and apologise.

A non-consensual kiss is "a kind of sex violence we suffer all women daily, which was until now invisible, and which we cannot normalise", acting Gender Equality Minister Irene