Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso defended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after he came under fire for kissing her on the lips following the team’s Women’s World Cup victory on Sunday.
“The president and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.
“A gesture of friendship and gratitude cannot be gone over so much, we have won a World Cup and we are not going to deviate from what is important.”
Spain’s World Cup charge was tainted by controversy over both the federation and coach Jorge Vilda’s relationship with the players.
Rubiales was a firm backer of Vilda and the RFEF was criticised for their strong position against the 15 protesting players.
Hermoso, who plays for Mexican side Pachuca, missed a penalty in the match but Spain held on to win through Olga Carmona’s first-half strike.
“We played how we wanted to play and we won a World Cup,” an emotional Hermoso told Spanish broadcasters La 1, in tears after the game.
AFP
