The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, Luis Rubiales, has been criticised for kissing the midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain won the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

The kiss took place during the presentation ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 win over England in the final. Rubiales was seen leaning in and kissing Hermoso on the lips, while she appeared to be surprised by the gesture.

The kiss has been met with criticism from some quarters, with some people accusing Rubiales of being inappropriate. Others have defended the kiss, saying that it was simply a gesture of congratulations and that there was no malicious intent.

However, in an Instagram post on Monday, Hermoso said: “I didn’t like it,”

In addition, Irene Montero, the Spanish Equality minister stated that: “It’s a form of sexual violence women suffer on a daily basis. We can’t normalise.

“We should not assume kissing without consent is something ‘that happens’,” she added.

Rubiales has since apologized for the kiss, saying that he “got carried away in the heat of the moment”. He has also said that he respects Hermoso’s decision to not press charges against him.

The incident has sparked a debate about the appropriateness of physical contact between coaches and players. Some people believe that such contact is never appropriate, while others believe that it can be acceptable in certain circumstances.

The RFEF has said that it will investigate the incident and take appropriate action. In a statement, the RFEF said: “We are aware of the images that have been circulating on social media and we are taking them very seriously. We will investigate the matter and take appropriate action.

“We want to reiterate our commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for all players, regardless of their gender. We will not tolerate any form of harassment or abuse.”

The incident has also drawn attention to the gender pay gap in football. Hermoso is one of the highest-paid players in the Spanish women’s league, but she still earns a fraction of what her male counterparts earn.