Luis Rubiales surprises and doesn't resign after kissing Jenni Hermoso, these were his words

Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish Football Federation, affirmed during the General Assembly of the said organization that he has no intentions of stepping down amidst the controversy stemming from the kiss he exchanged with soccer player Jenni Hermoso following the victory in the Women's World Cup. Rubiales, described the kiss as "unplanned, mutual, exuberant, and consensual," although he extended apologies "for the circumstances surrounding its occurrence."

Rubiales addressed the Extraordinary General Assembly of the federation this Friday, affirming his determination to “persist until the very end”. In a resolute discourse, he characterized the kiss as a "shared" moment and referred to campaigns that he deemed "unfair" and a form of "misguided feminism." With unwavering conviction, he reiterated multiple times in his nearly 30 minute speech that he would not step down.

This were his words: "It was spontaneous, mutual, exuberant, and consensual, which is the essence of all the critiques. It was consensual; this player missed a penalty, and I have a close relationship with all the players. We've been a family for over a month, and we shared affectionate moments during this training camp," he asserted during his address.

"Therefore, there is neither desire nor a position of dominance, and everyone understands that as well," Rubiales added, stating that it's not about seeking justice, "but about carrying out a social assassination."

Rubiales was captured on camera engaging in a forceful kiss with Jennifer Hermoso, the prominent figure of the Spanish national team. Hermoso had played a significant role in Spain's victory, securing their inaugural Women's World Cup championship title in Sydney last Sunday. This incident took an unexpected turn as the 33-year-old World Cup champion expressed her discomfort with the gesture, saying that she “didn’t like” and “didn’t expect.”

What Were the Reactions of Spanish National Team Players Regarding This Matter?

Rubiales' statements on Friday provoked additional criticism from certain individuals within the Spanish football community. Among them was Alexia Putellas, Hermoso's teammate and a two-time Ballon D'Or awardee, who deemed Rubiales' speech "inappropriate." Borja Iglesias, a striker for the Spain men's team, expressed his decision of not playing for the national team "until circumstances change."

By Monday, Rubiales acknowledged that he had committed an error. Nonetheless, critique persisted throughout the week, originating from figures within the soccer realm and Spanish political circles. Even Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, remarked that the apology for what he termed an "unacceptable gesture" was “not enough”.