In a declared narrative to the court, Luis Rubiales, who served as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, stated that the kiss with Jenny Hermoso, a member of the national team, was approved by him beforehand. The remarks were reported by Spor.es and form a central part of the ongoing examination of the incident.
Rubiales described the moment in question as accidental and spontaneous, painting it as a simple moment of congratulation during a larger scene of celebration. He said he was passing by to commend the players and the coach when a hug occurred. He recalled that, in the course of that embrace, he expressed gratitude for the role of Hermoso and the team, and he claimed to have asked for permission to kiss her, to which she reportedly responded affirmatively. He characterized the kiss as a natural extension of the joyous mood surrounding a major victory, comparing it to the randomness of winning the World Cup or a lottery, and asserted that its value was clear to him as supported by her own words that it would be worth it.
At the award ceremony following the 2023 World Cup final, in which Spain edged England with a 1-0 scoreline, Rubiales was seen celebrating the triumph with the team. His interaction with Hermoso, which included a kiss on the lips, drew widespread scrutiny from journalists and supporters alike, who labeled the act as excessive or inappropriate in the context of professional sports and public life. The episode quickly became a flashpoint in debates about consent, gender dynamics, and appropriate conduct by officials in the world of football.
The case prompted action from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which opened disciplinary proceedings related to Rubiales’ conduct during the event. Pressure from various quarters, including the media and public opinion, culminated in his resignation from his post on September 11 as part of a broader response to the controversy and calls for accountability within the federation’s leadership.
Earlier commentary from a coach associated with the Russian women’s national team added to the chorus of critique surrounding the episode. The coach offered perspectives on the social and cultural implications of the kiss, reflecting the broader international concern with how officials conduct themselves in moments of national pride and global visibility. This broader discourse underscored a shift toward heightened scrutiny of personal actions by those in leadership roles within football’s governing bodies.
As the situation unfolded, discussions focused on how such incidents should be handled within professional sports, including questions about consent, power dynamics, and the boundaries of celebratory behavior among team members, coaches, and officials. The episode became a reference point in ongoing conversations about safeguarding and ethical standards in sport governance, as organizations worked to balance tradition, national pride, and modern expectations of accountability. In this evolving context, the Rubiales affair contributed to a broader re-evaluation of procedures, disciplinary mechanisms, and the etiquette expected of high-profile figures who influence the sport’s global image.