Spanish Football Federation Chief, Luis Rubiales has drawn heavy criticism in his home country for kissing footballer Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth after the World Cup final in Sydney.

Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter that; “It is a form of sexual assault that we women suffer every day and that has been invisible until now and we must not normalise it. 

Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belarra also wrote about the incident on X; “Consent is key. Only a yes is a yes,”.

“We are all thinking: if they do this in front of the whole of Spain, what will they not do in private? Sexual violence against women must end,” she remarked.

Defending the action, Rubiales told Radio Marca; “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people share an unimportant gesture of mutual affection, you can’t pay attention to the crap that’s being said.”

Access24 reports that Spain’s women beat England 1-0 to lift their first World Cup but the scenes before the trophy presentation left many in Spain uneasy, including government ministers.

Rubiales hugged all of Spain’s players but the 45-year-old also kissed Hermoso on the mouth after embracing her and kissing her on the cheek.

“I didn’t like it,” the 33-year-old said.