BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s performing prime minister stated it was “unacceptable” that the Spanish soccer federation president kissed a participant on the lips with out her consent, as strain builds on Luis Rubiales to resign for tarnishing the crew’s Women’s World Cup championship.

Pedro Sánchez praised the crew throughout an viewers on the presidential palace on Tuesday and later joined the rising criticism of Rubiales.

“What we saw is unacceptable,” Sánchez stated. “And the apologies offered by Mr. Rubiales are not sufficient, I would call them inappropriate, so he must continue taking further steps to clarify what we all saw.”

Late Tuesday, the Spanish soccer federation introduced it is going to maintain an emergency assembly of its basic meeting on Friday. It is unclear if Rubiales can preserve the backing of the leaders of Spain’s regional soccer organizations.

The federation stated it was opening an inner probe “regarding the incidents during the awards ceremony Women’s World Cup.”

Gender equality and girls’s rights have been cornerstones of Sánchez’s leftist authorities. But Spain’s Women’s World Cup success has been marred by the compelled kiss Rubiales gave to participant Jenni Hermoso through the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory on Sunday within the closing towards England in Sydney, Australia.

After claiming that those that criticized his kiss had been “idiots and stupid people,” Rubiales was compelled to apologize on Monday.

Rubiales accompanied the crew and employees to the assembly with Sánchez, who greeted him with a handshake.

The compelled kiss precipitated a right away outcry each inside Spain and overseas. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz stated Rubiales “has harassed and assaulted” a girl and referred to as for his resignation.

The nation’s equality minister stated it was an act of “sexual assault.” Under a brand new sexual violence legislation, the unsolicited kiss, throughout which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s face earlier than giving her a kiss on the mouth, might doubtlessly be pursued as a criminal offense.

Immediately after Spain’s victory, Rubiales had additionally grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain standing close by.

The nation’s main opposition occasion has joined in denouncing Rubiales’ habits, leaving him with none help from main public or political figures.

Asked if Rubiales ought to go, Sánchez stated that it was not his name to make as a result of the Spanish soccer federation isn't managed by the federal government. But Sánchez did say Rubiales “has yet to be clear and compelling in his apologies.”

Spain’s gamers union, which Rubiales used to go, issued an announcement on Tuesday calling for Spain’s Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports, to behave towards Rubiales if he doesn't step down. The union cited Spain’s sports legislation that sanctions acts that “damage the dignity” of somebody or “creates an atmosphere of intimidation” based mostly on undesirable conduct associated to gender or race.

“The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power,” the union stated. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behavior of the federation president.”

Spain’s Higher Council for Sports informed The Associated Press that on Tuesday it obtained a proper grievance towards Rubiales filed by the president of Spain’s nationwide college for soccer coaches, Miguel Galan. It stated it was finding out the grievance.

Sumar, a left-wing political occasion led by Díaz, additionally stated it had filed an official grievance with Spain’s Higher Council for Sports.

During the celebrations on Monday within the capital, Hermoso prevented commenting on the incident.

“We’re world champions, aren’t we?” she stated. “Right now I think it’s too much.”

Players and employees landed late Monday in Madrid after a 20-plus hour flight from Sydney. They had been greeted by hundreds in a celebration that lasted till previous midnight.

Sánchez stated the crew members shall be awarded Spain’s golden medal of sports achievement.

“You have achieved something very important. The girls who watch you see soccer as a place where they can develop athletically and personally, ”Sánchez stated whereas posing for a gaggle photograph with the soccer crew in Madrid. “The 21st century will be the century of women on all fronts, and the century of effective equality between men and women.”

The 45-year-old Rubiales is a former participant who led the world gamers’ union’s Spanish affiliate for eight years earlier than being elected to steer the nationwide soccer federation in 2018. Since then, he has revamped the Spanish Super Cup, taking it to Saudi Arabia for tens of millions of {dollars}, in a transfer criticized by human rights teams. Last 12 months, Spain’s state prosecutors’ workplace introduced it was opening a probe into the contracts behind the Super Cup transfer.

Rubiales is now selling a joint bid by Spain, Portugal and Morocco to host the boys’s World Cup in 2030. The bid might doubtlessly embody Ukraine as nicely. Neither FIFA nor UEFA have commented on his conduct on the closing.

Rubiales is up for re-election subsequent 12 months. The president of the soccer federation is chosen by representatives of golf equipment, gamers, coaches, referees and regional federation heads.

The Spain squad was in near-mutiny final 12 months due to some gamers’ complaints concerning the tradition beneath coach Jorge Vilda, demanding higher teaching and preparation to get extra out of the crew.

Rubiales backed Vilda and solely three of the 15 gamers who complained had been included on the World Cup crew. The federation did take some steps towards enhancing the situations of the gamers, which included a monetary bundle to permit them to deliver relations to the World Cup and permission for gamers with youngsters to spend time with them.

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