Spain Coach Apologises For Applauding Controversial Luis Rubiales Speech
NDTV
Spain men's coach Luis de la Fuente apologised Friday for applauding football federation president Luis Rubiales' speech last week in which he said he would not resign, after his forcible kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso.
Spain men's coach Luis de la Fuente apologised Friday for applauding football federation president Luis Rubiales' speech last week in which he said he would not resign, after his forcible kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. "I have to say sorry, I made a mistake, it's inexcusable," De la Fuente told a news conference. Rubiales, 46, sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Hermoso during the Women's World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) chief provoked further ire with a defiant speech at an emergency meeting in which he refused to resign despite mounting pressure and instead railed against "false feminism", which De la Fuente applauded.
Rubiales insisted his kiss was consensual, but Hermoso said it was not and she felt like the "victim of an assault".
World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after which De la Fuente published a statement criticising the president's behaviour.
Some critics, including Spanish second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz, said De la Fuente could not continue in his post.
