Gianni Infantino has offered his support to the Spanish women’s team (Picture: Getty)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has vowed to ‘support women’ amid the World Cup kiss scandal involving Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso.
Spanish FA president Rubiales was pictured grabbing player Hermoso and kissing her on the lips during the country’s celebrations after beating England in the Women’s World Cup final, an incident which has been widely condemned.
Hermoso says that the kiss was not consensual and has confirmed that she will not play for Spain again until Rubiales has been sacked, while her team-mates have joined her in solidarity despite Rubiales insisting he will not resign.
The Spanish FA have urged Rubiales to stand down while he has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and it is thought that they are pushing to hand the 46-year-old a whopping 15-year ban.
FIFA president Infantino has now spoken out about the incident and said: ‘Sadly, the well-deserved celebration of [Spain’s] magnificent champions was marred by what happened after the final whistle.
‘And what continued to happen in the days that followed. This should never have happened.
‘But it happened, and FIFA’s disciplinary bodies immediately assumed their responsibility, taking the necessary measures.
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‘Disciplinary proceedings shall follow their legitimate course. For our part, we must continue to focus on how to continue to support women and women’s football in the future.
‘On and off the pitch. Upholding true values and respecting the players as people, as well as their fantastic performances.’
Meanwhile, Spanish prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation over Rubiales and are looking into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.
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