- By Himanshu Badola
- Mon, 21 Aug 2023 06:12 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Spanish players stepped onto the podium after their triumph over England to clinch their maiden FIFA Women's World Cup on Sunday.
Skipper Olga Carmona scored the only goal to win the biggest silverware for her team.
Following the win, while getting congratulated by the dignitaries including Queen Letizia, striker Jenni Hermoso was greeted in a surprising manner by Spanish Federation chief Luis Rubiales.
✨El Presidente de la #RFEF, #LuisRubiales, en un arrebato de euforia, besa en la boca a la delantera #JenniHermoso. A ella parece que no le han gustado estas expansiones.
— Ignacio Valladolid (@ignacio_vlldld) August 20, 2023
Difícil entender una torpeza así tal como está el patio.#CampeonasDelMundo2023 pic.twitter.com/tbIlHo2hD3
Rubiales threw his arms around Hermoso and gave her a strong hug while whispering something in her ear. He then put both his hands on the back of her head and kissed her on the mouth.
His actions received a quick backlash from the fans and the fraternity and were criticised heavily on social media.
However, Hermoso who missed the penalty for her side in the thrilling summit clash reacted to the incident adding that she didn't like it.
Later, Rubiales joked with the players in the locker room, promising them a trip to Ibiza where he said he would celebrate his wedding with Jenni Hermoso.
After the fuss that was created, the footballer made other statements, downplaying the matter: “It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning a World Cup. The president and I have a great relationship; his behavior towards all of us has been exemplary, and it was a natural expression of affection and gratitude,” Jenni said.
“There’s no need to overanalyze a gesture of friendship and gratitude; we’ve won a World Cup, and we won’t stray from what’s important.”
The sequence that took place between Hermoso and Rubiales was compared by many to the passionate kissing moment between Iker Casillas and Sara Carbonero in 2010.
A similar kind of thing took place after Casillas-led Spain clinched their maiden World Cup title in South Africa by defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.
Hermoso couldn’t hide her emotions and tears: “We’ve been imagining this for many days. We can’t grasp that we are bloody world champions! It’s the best feeling I’ve experienced in football, the best feeling of my life. This is incredible; we dedicate it to all our families and everyone who took to the streets in Spain,” she said after the match.
“We played football the way we wanted and won a World Championship,” she concluded.