I Didn’t Consent To Luis Rubiales Kiss – Spain World Cup Star Jenni Hermoso Insists

By - LagosCityReporters 25 August 2023 Comments (0) 2 Mins Read

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Spanish international footballer Jenni Hermoso has insisted she did not consent to being kissed by FA chief Luis Rubiales after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

Hermoso has also claimed words credited to her have been “invented” following the incident. In the immediate aftermath of the kiss, she said she “did not enjoy” being kissed on the lips by Rubiales, and more than 50 Spanish players have shown solidarity by saying they will not play for the national team again until he is removed.

The FA president was expected to resign on Friday, only to perform an apparent U-turn. Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council, confirmed legal action is being started with the potential of removing Rubiales from his position.

A number of players and clubs have spoken out against the chief, who has been in his role since 2018. The Spanish Football Federation released a statement credited to Hermoso in the aftermath of the final, but now the player herself has spoken out.

“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss he gave me and in no case did I seek to raise the president,” Hermoso said, per Marca. “I do not tolerate my word being questioned, much less that words are invented that I have not said.”

Echoing Hermoso’s latest comments, players from the Spanish national team issued a statement, via FutPro, expressing “firm and resounding condemnation” of Rubiales’ actions. More than 50 individuals have put their names to the statement, including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and World Cup Golden Ball winner Aitana Bonmati.

“From our union we want to emphasize that no woman should feel the need to respond to the forceful images that the whole world has seen and of course, they should not be involved in non-consensual attitudes,” the statement reads. “The players of the Spanish Soccer Team, current world champions, expect forceful answers from the public powers so that actions such as those contained do not go unpunished.

“We want to end this statement, asking for real changes, both sporting and structural, that help the National Team to continue growing, in order to transfer this great success to later generations. It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is managing to tarnish the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.”