Kiss gate: I felt anger — NBA hall of famer slams Rubiales

Basketball legend Pau Gasol is the latest in a line of Spanish sports personalities to publicly criticise RFEF president Luis Rubiales for his bizarre act during the medal ceremony of the just-concluded Women’s World Cup, where he kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the lips. 

The 43-year-old Laker legend was recently inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame this year for his successful Basketball career in the USA, where he won two championships. He retired from the sport in 2021, playing for the Barcelona Basketball Team, the club where his career began.

Although Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA for 90 days and is currently under investigation, he insists that the kiss with Hermoso was consensual and refuses to step down.

He has been urged to quit by the regional heads of the federation, and the secretary general of the RFEF, Pedro Rocha, is now serving as the acting president. The administrator has apologised for the act, but he continues to say that the kiss was mutual.

When asked about the incident, Gasol revealed that he was appalled by it and called for support for women’s football in the country.

"I felt anger when I saw what he did in the World Cup final," Gasol said, per Tjcope.

"It is a question of human values, of society, of the country. It's a time to support Jenni, the players, women's football."