Spain's acting prime minister criticises federation head for kissing player from World Cup champs

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain's acting prime minister said it was "unacceptable" that the Spanish football federation president kissed a player on the lips without her consent, as pressure builds on Luis Rubiales to resign for tarnishing the team's Women's World Cup championship.

Pedro Sánchez praised the team during an audience at the presidential palace on Tuesday and later joined the growing criticism of Rubiales.

"What we saw is unacceptable," Sánchez said. "And the apologies offered by Mr Rubiales are not sufficient, I would call them inappropriate, so he must continue taking further steps to clarify what we all saw."

Gender equality and women's rights have been cornerstones of Sánchez's leftist government. But Spain's Women's World Cup success has been marred by the forced kiss Rubiales gave to player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain's 1-0 victory on Sunday in the final against England in Sydney, Australia.

After claiming that those who criticised his kiss were "idiots and stupid people," Rubiales was forced to apologise on Monday.

Rubiales accompanied the team and staff to the meeting with Sánchez, who greeted him with a handshake.

The forced kiss caused an immediate outcry both inside Spain and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz said Rubiales "has harassed and assaulted" a woman and called for his resignation.

The country's equality minister said it was an act of "sexual assault." Under a new sexual violence law, the unsolicited kiss, during which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso's face before giving her a kiss on the mouth, could potentially be pursued as a crime.

Immediately after Spain's victory, Rubiales had also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain standing nearby.

The country's leading opposition party has joined in denouncing Rubiales' behaviour, leaving him without any support from major public or political figures.

Asked if Rubiales should go, Sánchez said that it was not his call to make because the Spanish football federation is not controlled by the government. But Sánchez did say Rubiales "has yet to be clear and compelling in his apologies."

Spain's players union, which Rubiales used to head, issued a statement on Tuesday calling for Spain's Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports, to act against Rubiales if he does not step down. The union cited Spain's sports law that sanctions acts that "damage the dignity" of someone or "creates an atmosphere of intimidation" based on unwanted conduct related to gender or race.

"The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power," the union said. "A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behaviour of the federation president."

Spain's Higher Council for Sports told The Associated Press that on Tuesday it received a formal complaint against Rubiales filed by a the president of Spain's national school for soccer coaches, Miguel Galan. It said it was studying the complaint.

During the celebrations on Monday in the capital, Hermoso avoided commenting on the incident.

"We're world champions, aren't we?" she said. "Right now I think it's too much."

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