The RFEF offered its “most sincere apologies… for the totally unacceptable behaviour of its highest institutional representative during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and in the moments that followed”, it said in a statement.

Rubiales, 46, sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain defeated England to win the Women’s World Cup in Sydney on August 20th.

He has been suspended by FIFA pending an investigation but has refused to resign, defending the kiss as “just a peck” which he claimed was consensual.

But Hermoso said it was not and it had left her feeling like the “victim of an assault”.

🚨 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 | La RFEF pide disculpas al mundo del fútbol y al conjunto de la sociedad.

ℹ️ Léelo aquí: https://t.co/AYEiuj35yn pic.twitter.com/Ntcpzob9BE

— RFEF (@rfef) September 5, 2023

“The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and to the values of football and sport as a whole has been enormous,” the RFEF said in extending the apology to FIFA, UEFA “and especially the players of the Spanish national women’s team”.

Rubiales’ statements after the incident were “inappropriate and meaningless” and “not (the position) of the RFEF” which was “saddened and embarrassed” by the distress they had caused.

The federation, which initially came under fire for not calling for Rubiales’ resignation until eight days after the incident and threatening legal action against Jenni Hermoso for her “lies”, said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation into his actions in order “to ensure that such behaviour is not repeated”.

It had also committed to conducting “a thorough review of all policies and procedures of the organisation”, pledging to present “in the coming days a whole set of actions to improve the governance of the Spanish football federation and to repair, as far as possible, the damage caused”.