Spanish soccer chief apologies for inappropriate kiss with player after World Cup win

A kiss on the lips caused an uproar after Spain won the Women's World Cup title.

Criticism from the Spanish government and the soccer world rained down Monday on national soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for his inappropriate conduct while reveling in Spain's 1-0 win over England in Sunday's final in Sydney, Australia.

Rubiales kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal and trophy ceremony on the field. He also hugged several other players and put his arm around Queen Letizia of Spain.

The federation released a video statement Monday of Rubiales apologizing and acknowledging he "surely made a mistake" but in "a moment of maximum effusiveness."

"We saw it as something normal, natural and not in any way in bad faith. But outside it seems that a commotion has been created," Rubiales said in the video. "When you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful."

World players' union FIFPRO said Monday the kiss was "deeply lamentable." The 45-year-old Rubiales led the union's Spanish affiliate for eight years before being elected to lead the national soccer federation in 2018.

In Spain, acting minister for sports and culture Miquel Iceta told public broadcaster RNE "it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her."

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A stronger reaction came from Spanish government equality minister Irene Montero.

"It is a form of sexual violence that women suffer on a daily basis, and which has been invisible so far, and which we should not normalize," Montero said wrote Sunday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The kiss was shocking given the sport's long-standing allegations of