In the so-called kissing scandal, the players of the Spanish national team have shown solidarity with their colleagues and criticized the head of the football association, Luis Rubiales.

Spain’s national soccer team has condemned the behavior of their association president Luis Rubiales in the kissing scandal. Even before training, the team captains addressed the media in the press conference room in Las Rozas near Madrid on Monday. In a statement read by Álvaro Morata, they wanted to comment on issues that had damaged the image of Spanish soccer.

“We want to reject Mr. Rubiales’ behavior, which we believe was unacceptable and does not do justice to the institution he represents,” Morata said.

The 46-year-old Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth after the Spanish women’s World Cup triumph at the medal ceremony in Sydney. Despite massive criticism and calls for his resignation, he has so far refused to give up his post. However, the FIFA has suspended Rubiales for 90 days.

At an extraordinary general assembly of the association, he himself had countered and spoken of a “false feminism” that wanted to hunt him down. Rubiales also said that the kiss was mutual. Hermoso objected to this.

Spain’s men’s team congratulated the women again on winning the World Cup and spoke of a milestone and an invaluable triumph. They also expressed their solidarity after the women’s success was marred by the incident. All the players were present when the statement was announced.

Since then, there have been several demonstrations and solidarity rallies with Jennifer Hermoso – like the one in Barcelona earlier this week, with hundreds of demonstrators flying purple flags – the color of the feminist movement in Spain.