An “unacceptable gesture”. This Tuesday, Pedro Sanchez the head of the Spanish government condemned the attitude of Luis Rubiales on Jennifer Hermoso after the victory of La Roja in the World Cup. The president of the Spanish football federation had, by surprise, kissed the Spanish striker on the mouth at the time of the medal ceremony.
Facing journalists on Tuesday, Pedro Sanchez also said that Luis Rubiales’ apologies were “insufficient”. “I even think that they are inappropriate and that he must therefore go further,” he said without giving further details.
The president of the federation had apologized in a video posted Monday on social networks, saying that it had been an act “without any bad intention, without any bad faith”. This Tuesday, Reliefassures that Rubiales would have begged, in vain, the player to appear at his side.
???? Live TV | Sánchez on Rubiales: “What we saw was an unacceptable gesture. I think that the apologies he has given are not enough, I even believe that they are not adequate and that therefore he has to continue taking steps to clarify what we all saw” pic.twitter.com/JgAi4oQKhY
— THE COUNTRY (@el_pais) August 22, 2023
Jennifer Hermoso, however, wanted to calm the controversy, this Monday. She had explained, in statements sent to the press by the federation, that it was “a completely spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that comes from winning a World Cup. The president and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us was perfect and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude. Only, according to Relevo again, these declarations would have in fact been written by the communication service of the Federation.
Since then, several ministers of the Spanish leftist government, including Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz, number three in the government, have called for the resignation of Luis Rubiales, citing a clear and actionable gesture.
