Spain害羞草研究所檚 acting prime minister praised the country害羞草研究所檚 during an audience at the presidential palace on Tuesday, and later slammed the head of the Spanish soccer federation for without her consent.

害羞草研究所淵ou have achieved something very important. The girls who watch you see soccer as a place where they can develop athletically and personally,害羞草研究所� Pedro S谩nchez said while posing for a group photo with the soccer team in Madrid. 害羞草研究所淭he 21st century will be the century of women on all fronts, and the century of effective equality between men and women.害羞草研究所�

S谩nchez said the team members will be awarded Spain害羞草研究所檚 golden medal of sports achievement in honor of their 1-0 victory on Sunday in the final against England in Sydney, Australia.

Gender equality and women害羞草研究所檚 rights have been cornerstones of S谩nchez害羞草研究所檚 leftist government. But Spain害羞草研究所檚 Women害羞草研究所檚 World Cup success has been marred by the forced kiss on the lips that Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales gave to player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following the final.

After claiming that those who criticized his kiss were 害羞草研究所渋diots and stupid people,害羞草研究所� Rubiales was forced to apologize on Monday.

害羞草研究所淲hat we saw is unacceptable害羞草研究所�, said S谩nchez later Tuesday. 害羞草研究所淎nd the apologies offered by Mr. Rubiales are not sufficient, I would call them inappropriate, so he must continue taking further steps to clarify what we all saw.害羞草研究所�

Rubiales accompanied the team and staff to the meeting with S谩nchez, who greeted him with a handshake.

The forced kiss caused an immediate outcry both inside Spain and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz said Rubiales 害羞草研究所渉as harassed and assaulted害羞草研究所� a woman and called for his resignation.

The country害羞草研究所檚 equality minister said it was an act of 害羞草研究所渟exual assault.害羞草研究所� Under a new sexual violence law, the unsolicited kiss, during which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso害羞草研究所檚 face before giving her a kiss on the mouth, could potentially be pursued as a crime.

Immediately after Spain害羞草研究所檚 victory, Rubiales also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sof铆a and Queen Letizia of Spain standing nearby.

The country害羞草研究所檚 leading opposition party has joined in denouncing Rubiales害羞草研究所� behavoir, leaving him without any support from major public or political figures.

Asked if Rubiales should go, S谩nchez said that it was not his call to make because the Spanish soccer federation is not controlled by the government. But S谩nchez did say Rubiales 害羞草研究所渉as yet to be clear and compelling in his apologies.害羞草研究所�

During the celebrations on Monday in the capital, Hermoso avoided commenting on the incident.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e world champions, aren害羞草研究所檛 we?害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淩ight now I think it害羞草研究所檚 too much.害羞草研究所�

Players and staff landed late Monday in Madrid after a 20-plus hour flight from Sydney. They in a celebration that lasted until past midnight.

The 45-year-old Rubiales is a former player who led the world players害羞草研究所� union害羞草研究所檚 Spanish affiliate for eight years before being elected to lead the national soccer federation in 2018. Since then, he has revamped the Spanish Super Cup, taking it to Saudi Arabia for millions of dollars, in a move criticized by human rights groups.

Rubiales is now promoting a joint bid by Spain, Portugal and Morocco to host the men害羞草研究所檚 World Cup in 2030. The bid could potentially include Ukraine as well. Neither FIFA nor UEFA have commented on his conduct at the final.

Rubiales is up for re-election next year. The president of the soccer federation is chosen by representatives of clubs, players, coaches, referees and regional federation heads.

The Spain squad was in because of some players害羞草研究所� complaints about the culture under coach Jorge Vilda, demanding better coaching and preparation to get more out of the team.

Rubiales backed Vilda and only three of the 15 players who complained were included on the World Cup team. The federation did take some steps toward improving the conditions of the players, which included a financial package to allow them to bring family members to the World Cup and permission for players with children to spend time with them.

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