MADRID (AP) — Moments after Spain gained the Women’s World Cup, the person who leads the nation’s nationwide soccer federation took some undesirable consideration away from the celebrating gamers.

Criticism from the Spanish authorities and the soccer world rained down Monday on Luis Rubiales for his inappropriate conduct whereas reveling in Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sunday’s ultimate in Sydney, Australia.

By grabbing his crotch in a victory gesture — seemingly oblivious to 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía standing close by — after which kissing Spain participant Jenni Hermoso on the lips through the medal and trophy ceremony on the sphere, Rubiales’s conduct marred the most important day for ladies’s soccer.

The kiss was “deeply lamentable,” world gamers’ union FIFPRO stated. The 45-year-old Rubiales led the union’s Spanish affiliate for eight years earlier than being elected to guide the nationwide soccer federation in 2018.

In Spain, appearing minister for sports and tradition Miquel Iceta informed public broadcaster RNE “it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her.”

A stronger response got here from Spanish authorities 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 stated wrote Sunday on X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter.

The kiss was stunning given the game’s long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct by male soccer presidents and coaches towards feminine gamers in nationwide groups. Two of the 32 World Cup groups, Haiti and Zambia, needed to take care of the problem whereas qualifying for the event co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The Spain squad additionally was in near-mutiny final yr on a separate subject due to some gamers’ complaints in regards to the tradition beneath coach Jorge Vilda.

After the sport, when Hermoso handed alongside the road of soccer dignitaries to gather her medal, Rubiales put his arms to her head and kissed her on the lips. He additionally hugged a number of different gamers and put his arm round Queen Letizia of Spain.

In an Instagram video within the dressing room after the incident, the gamers screamed and laughed whereas watching the kiss being replayed on a cellphone.

Hermoso will be seen laughing and shouting, “But I didn’t like it!” Asked by different gamers what she was doing, she shouted, “Look at me, look at me,” intimating she couldn’t do a lot about it.

Late Sunday, the Spanish soccer federation launched an announcement on behalf of Hermoso to attempt to settle the controversy.

“It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning a World Cup,” Hermoso stated within the federation’s assertion. “The president and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has been excellent and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”

FIFPRO, which is predicated within the Netherlands, took a unique view.

“It is deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain national team that was taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility,” FIFPRO stated in an announcement.

“Uninitiated and uninvited physical gestures towards players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context. This is especially true when players are put in a position of vulnerability because a physical approach or gesture is initiated by a person who holds power over them.”

Rubiales is also a UEFA vp and was the European soccer physique’s most senior elected consultant on the ultimate in Australia.

Video clips filmed after the ultimate whistle of Sunday’s match present Rubiales celebrating the victory within the entrance row of an unique part close to the queen of Spain and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Rubiales jumped with each arms within the air, pointing with each index fingers towards the sphere, then briefly grabbed his crotch together with his proper hand.

The former participant has a key position in wooing soccer officers over the subsequent yr whereas attempting to safe internet hosting rights for the boys’s World Cup in 2030. Spain leads a joint bid with Portugal, Morocco and, at the moment, Ukraine for the 48-team event and is favored to win subsequent yr’s determination.

UEFA and FIFA didn't instantly reply Monday to requests for remark about Rubiales’s conduct.

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Dunbar reported from Geneva.

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Associated Press reporter Ciaran Giles contributed to this report.

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