Dear Luis Rubiales: sportswomen are not dolls to be kissed | Barbara Ellen

The president of the Spanish football federation should have issued an immediate apology for his behaviour. That he has not is a spectacular own goal

As we observe the scorching international bin fire that is the Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales's self-inflicted catastrophe, there is the key issue of the missing apology flickering in the flames.

An apology from Rubiales, that is (just to be clear). An instant calm, sincere mea culpa for becoming overexcited in the moment of the Spanish women's football team's World Cup victory and forcefully kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. Thus, at the very least, behaving entirely inappropriately towards a female athlete, and in front of a global audience.