Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales is being condemned online after grabbing and kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the post-match medal presentation. 

Hermoso, who helped the team achieve its first Women's World Cup title on Sunday night in Sydney, had been hugging Rubiales before he grabbed her head, kissed her on the lips and patted her back.

The moment stirred controversy online, with former Socceroo Craig Foster calling the moment 'horrific' on X (formerly known as Twitter) and urging FIFA and the Spanish FA to stand Rubiales down. "Women in sport are daily subject to an extreme power differential, objectification, harassment, sexual abuse and an absence of agency and power," Foster said.

Addressing the moment, Hermoso said, “Yeah, I did not enjoy that." 

However, In later comments, made to the AFP via the Spanish Federation, Hermosa played down the incident, saying, “It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings." 

“The president and I have a great relationship, his behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude." Rubiales also defended his actions when speaking on Spanish radio station Marca.