The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was filled with memorable moments both on and off the pitch. One of the most talked about incidents came after Spain's elimination from the tournament when forward Ferran Torres was asked about receiving a kiss on the cheek from the President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales. Torres responded that the kiss never happened, but now the RFEF is claiming the World Cup winner lied.
The Background
After Spain suffered a shocking loss to Morocco in the round of 16, ending their World Cup run, Torres spoke to the media about the team's disappointment. When asked by a reporter whether Rubiales had given him a kiss after the match, Torres stated "No, no he didn't give me a kiss, that's a lie."
This denial directly contradicted photos and videos that emerged after the game showing Rubiales approaching Torres on the field and clearly kissing his cheek. The images quickly went viral, being shared widely on social media and discussed on sports shows.
Many viewed the kiss as inappropriate and unprofessional, considering Spain had just experienced a major failure at the World Cup. Critics said it showed favoritism and a lack of discipline within the RFEF.
The Accusations
Days after Torres' remark, the RFEF released a bold statement accusing their World Cup forward of lying and defending the actions of Rubiales. The statement read:
"The RFEF categorically affirms that the kiss on the cheek given by our president Luis Rubiales to player Ferran Torres did occur after Spain's elimination from the World Cup. The federation possesses clear photographic and video evidence showing this interaction in Qatar. Any suggestion otherwise is an outright falsehood. While we understand the player's disappointment after the loss, lying to the media and publicly contradicting clear proof is unacceptable from a national team representative.”
The statement went on to further justify Rubiales' kiss as a customary gesture in Spain between men and claimed Torress should "never have denied this truthful encounter." It stopped short of announcing any specific punishments for Torres but ended by expressing the RFEF's "profound disappointment" in his conduct.
Reactions
The RFEF's forceful denial and rebuke of Torres has elicited intense reactions from across the Spanish football world.
Many former players and pundits have sided with the federation, agreeing no World Cup player should ever lie, especially when photographic evidence exists. Spanish football legend Andrés Iniesta called it "embarrassing behavior" from Torres to make such a claim.
However, some have also voiced support for Torres, suggesting his initial denial was an attempt to avoid fueling more criticism against Rubiales' actions. The player has himself yet to respond to the RFEF's accusations.
Meanwhile, Spanish media outlets and fan blogs remain fiercely divided, debating whether the kiss was truly appropriate and who is in the wrong. The sports daily Marca ran the scathing headline "RFEF: Torres Lied. Was the Kiss Really Necessary?"
What Comes Next
It remains to be seen whether Torres will retract his denial about the kiss or stick firm to his claims despite the RFEF's insistence otherwise. Either way, the controversy has created a tense rift between Spain's World Cup star and the federation's leadership.
Rubiales continues facing heavy scrutiny for his overly familiar interaction. But for now, the RFEF seems fully committed to defending his behavior.
This very public war of words between the national team player and Spanish football heads will likely drag on in the coming weeks. Both sides may look to smooth things over to avoid an outright feud. However, the kiss reaction has exposed deeper issues around protocol and conduct that won't disappear anytime soon.
Going forward, many will be watching closely to see if further fallout emerges from this World Cup kiss scandal rocking Spanish football.