# Spain’s Prime Minister Criticizes Football Federation President for Unacceptable Gesture
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has criticized the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, for an “unacceptable gesture” after he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final. Rubiales apologized on Monday and said he was “completely wrong,” but Sanchez said that his apology was “not enough.”
## Rubiales’ Unacceptable Gesture
Video footage circulated online after the match showed Rubiales, who was sat in the VIP area of the stadium near Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Queen Letizia of Spain, grab his groin as he celebrated the final whistle. He then kissed Hermoso on the lips, which Sanchez called an “unacceptable gesture.”
“Rubiales’ apologies are not enough, I even think they are not adequate. He has to continue taking steps to clarify what we all saw,” Sanchez said. “The players did everything to win but Rubiales’ behaviour shows that there is still a long way to go for equality.”
## Calls for Rubiales’ Resignation
Spain’s second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz, called for Rubiales’ resignation. “Their excuses are useless,” she said. “[The Spain squad] have shown us many things about equality, not only in sports and football. They have shown us that there is still a lot to do in our country, that there is still a lot to do so that men and women can become equal.”
Hermoso said on Instagram that she “didn’t like” Rubiales’ actions after the final, but a statement released later on the Spain forward’s behalf defended him. In a video released on Monday, Rubiales said: “It was without bad intention at a time with a lot of excitement. In the moment, we saw it as natural, but outside a commotion has formed. I have to apologize, learn from this, and understand that when you are president you have to be more careful.”
## Conclusion
Rubiales’ actions have been widely criticized by Spanish government ministers and social media users. His apology may not be enough to appease those who feel he acted inappropriately and that his behavior shows there is still a long way to go for gender equality in Spain.