Amid widespread criticism of the incident, together with from the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), Sánchez answered questions from reporters on Tuesday and stated that “what we saw was an unacceptable gesture”.
“Regarding Mr. Rubiales and all the controversy that has taken place, in the first place I believe that they, the players, they have done everything to win,” Sánchez stated.
“But it is true that there has been some behaviour, in this case of Mr. Rubiales, which shows that in our country there is still a long way to go in terms of equality and respect and in this equalisation of rights between women and men.
“The apologies made by Mr. Rubiales usually are not sufficient. I even assume that they don’t seem to be acceptable and that, subsequently, Mr. Rubiales must proceed to take steps to make clear what all of us noticed,” added Sánchez.
Rubiales and Sánchez met earlier on Tuesday and shook hands when the Spain squad visited the Moncloa Palace – the Spanish prime minister’s residence – to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit.
“The president of the federation is chosen, or fired, by the federation’s members,” Sánchez added in response to a question about whether he would look to remove Rubiales from his post.
“I’ve already stated in my first response to your colleagues, that his clarification was inadequate, that Mr. Rubiales has to take extra steps to clear up his behaviour, which in any mild, is unacceptable.
“It doesn’t connect with the majority sentiment of the citizenry, which clearly bets on equality between men and women and which, logically, well we’ve seen his statements of apology, which I don’t know if you’ve all seen it, but I think that they’re insufficient.”
CNN has reached out to the RFEF for touch upon Sánchez’s remarks however didn’t hear again by the point of publication.
On Monday, Rubiales admitted he “made a mistake” by giving Hermoso a kiss on the lips after the 33-year-old had collected her winners’ medal following the Women’s World Cup ultimate victory over England.
Rubiales has confronted widespread criticism for the incident, together with his behaviour labelled “unacceptable” and “simply disgusting”.
“Hey, I didn’t like it, eh,” Hermoso stated as she apparently answered questions concerning the incident in an Instagram stay video, a clip of which was shared by Spanish journalist Irati Vida on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter.
Later within the Instagram stay video – taken in Spain’s locker room – Hermoso fields a query from one other lady: “But what were you doing, sis?” The 33-year-old replies: “But what am I supposed to do?”
On the radio program El Tiempo de Juego on Cadena COPE, Hermoso spoke of the kiss on Sunday, saying “she didn’t expect it” however that “it was because of the emotion of the moment, there’s nothing more there. It’s just going to be an anecdote [of the time]. I’m absolutely sure it won’t be blown up more.”
AFE, which seeks to defend the rights of Spanish soccer gamers, referred to as Rubiales’ actions “lamentable.”
“It’s especially serious given what happened with Jennifer Hermoso who found herself in a state of clear vulnerability before a person in a position of power over her who initiated an approach or realising a physical gesture.”
The impartial physique referred to as for authorities to hunt authorized treatments via the Law of Sport, ought to Rubiales not resign “immediately.”
The situation has been broadly condemned in Spain, together with from politicians throughout the political spectrum.
“We maintain our asking of the resignation of the gentleman who belittled and assaulted a woman. His excuses serve absolutely nothing,” Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s performing second deputy prime minister and chief of the Sumar social gathering, stated in a press convention.
Cuca Gamarra, parliamentary spokesperson and secretary basic of the Partido Popular, additionally stated: “All institutional leaders should have exemplary behavior and that exemplary nature should be respect towards women and what we saw in that final in this sense was shameful. Only shame comes to my mind, at a minimum.”
Source: www.9news.com.au
