Rubiales ‘ashamed’ about gesture after World Cup last
L
uis Rubiales has apologised after being pictured grabbing his crotch close to Queen Letizia and her daughter whereas celebrating Spain successful the World Cup.
In an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored on Talk TV, Rubiales stated he was “truly ashamed” by his actions and added there have been “no excuses” for his behaviour.
The 46-year-old, who resigned as the president of Spanish football federation on Sunday, is because of seem in a Madrid court docket on Friday over his kiss with Spain ahead Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales has been summoned by a excessive court docket choose to answer accusations of sexual assault and coercion.
He insisted throughout his interview with Morgan on Wednesday evening that his kiss with Hermoso was a “mutual act”. Rubiales admitted it was a mistake, given his position as president, however didn’t apologise to the Spain ahead.
He did, nonetheless, express regret for his actions on the full-time whistle of the World Cup last when he was pictured within the stands grabbing his crotch close to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter.
“For this, I am truly ashamed,” he stated. “More from an internal perspective than anything else. There are no excuses. I apologise because it is not the behaviour I have to do.
“In Spain with guys, as well as women, there is an expression that would probably translate to something like: ‘Oh my genitals’ or something to that respect. So this vulgar expression, what it means is bravo, well done.
“When the final whistle went, [former Spain head coach] Jorge Vilda looked at me and said: ‘This is for you’, gesturing quite strongly. I gestured back and said: ‘No, no, this is for you. This is for you for all the suffering we have had’.
“And so I made a gesture, it was unfortunate, but it wasn’t in a negative connotation. It was to say bravo, well done.”
Rubiales stated throughout his interview with Morgan that the “truth hasn’t surfaced” and cultural misunderstanding had led to response to his kiss with Hermoso blowing up.
“I think Latin people, and it’s a cultural question, have that tactile [approach], it’s pretty normal in a Latin world between guys and girls,” he stated.
“It was mutual act. She (Hermoso) came towards me, very happy. She lifted me up, she lifted me up in the air.
Rubiales insisted during his interview with Morgan on Wednesday night that his kiss with Hermoso was a “mutual act”
/ ES“When we hit the ground, there was a quick conversation. There was a quick conversation when we hit the ground, we were both emotional.
“We congratulated each other, I gave her a quick peck. I asked her: ‘Can I give you a quick peck?’ Which is normal in our country. I think she gave me one or two slaps on my side, she was laughing.
“This has turned out to be a snowball created by spurious arguments and people. My intentions were noble, enthusiastic, 100 per cent non-sexual, 100 per cent, I repeat, 100 per cent.
“I do understand as president I should have acted in a more solemn, cold and diplomatic way. “
When asked if he would have acted in the same way had it been Spain’s men’s team, Rubiales added: “No doubt about it, 100 per cent.”