Spain's FA calls emergency meeting over World Cup kissing incident

MADRID - The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has called for an extraordinary assembly on Friday and started an internal investigation into events during the award ceremony after its team had won the women's World Cup, reported German news agency (dpa).

A statement late Thursday said: "The Royal Spanish Football Federation is urgently convening an extraordinary general assembly for Friday Aug 2, starting at 12 noon. In addition and based on the latest events that took place during the award ceremony of the women's World Cup won by the Spanish National Team last Sunday in Sydney, the Federation wishes to inform that the internal proceedings of the Federation regarding integrity issues are open, as well as the rest of the applicable protocols."

The news came after RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the victory ceremony in Sydney where Spain won the trophy for the first time 1-0 over England.

The incident caused a storm, Rubiales later apologised but Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that was not good enough.

"What we saw was an unacceptable gesture but Rubiales’ apologies are also not enough and are not even adequate, and, therefore, he has to continue taking steps to clarify what we all saw in the media," Sánchez said on Tuesday.

There have been many calls for Rubiales to step down as a result, but Spanish news reports Wednesday said that will likely not happen as delegates were expected to rally behind him.

Hermoso said on social media post she "didn’t like” the kiss before defending Rubiales in a statement issued later by saying they had a good relationship and that the incident was a "totally spontaneous mutual gesture" in celebration of the title. - BERNAMA