Juventus boss causes controversy after kissing female interviewer

Martin Macdonald

• 9 Feb 2026 07:30 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti has caused controversy in Italy after kissing a female interviewer on the shoulder in a post-match interview.

The interaction came following a thrilling Serie A match in which the Bianconeri fought from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Lazio.

Pedro and Gustav Isaksen put the capital club ahead but a Weston McKennie strike and a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser from Pierre Kalulu saw Juve earn a point in pulsating fashion.

When the match was still locked at 0-0, Teun Koopmeiners scored only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul, while Juventus felt they actually should have been awarded a penalty in the lead-up to the disallowed goal.

The Dutchman's goal was ruled out after minimal contact with Juan Cabal.

🗣️ Luciano Spalletti: "Dokununca faul çalıyorlar. Bir öpücük vereyim... Bak işte bu da faul. Okşadım, faul. Tokat mı? O da faul. Yeter artık. Her şeye faul çalarak futbolu katlediyorsunuz."pic.twitter.com/5ylqy1EWBb

— Ajansspor (@ajansspor) February 9, 2026

Spalletti was fuming about the decision post-match, and to illustrate his point he gave his interviewer a peck on the shoulder.

He told DAZN: “The referee can interpret it the way he wants, because the defender is imprudent when going into that sliding tackle, so he takes a risk.

“Everyone now goes to protest about the rules, but there is always an interpretation.

“The pressure of a step on foot, handball that nobody sees in the stadium but they zoom in with the camera, it is all open to interpretation. You cannot generalise that every contact is a penalty.”

As he kissed the interviewer, he said afterwards "contact is not the same as impact".

DAZN refereeing analyst Luca Marelli insisted a penalty should have been awarded to Juventus.

The Juventus boss continued: “The rules are too rigid right now, it is the rigidity that I find to be the problem.

“If nobody even realises it hit a hand, who is damaged by that? The analysts keep saying ‘there was contact,’ but that doesn’t mean anything, does it? May I kiss you, here, this is contact.

“It’s about context, contact is not the same thing as impact. There will always be difficulty if there are rules where every touch of the hand is a penalty, every step on foot is a penalty.

“This is what VAR is for, you can evaluate the context in its totality.

“If we stick to the rules, then that is definitely a penalty, because Gila goes into a sliding tackle and takes responsibility for that gesture when he doesn’t get the ball.”

Juve are currently fourth in Serie A. Spalletti was brought in as head coach in October after the dismissal of Igor Tudor.

Luis Rubiales resigns after unsolicited kiss

In September of 2023, Luis Rubiales resigned as Spanish Football Federation president after he kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso during the Women's World Cup final trophy ceremony.

Rubiales was suspended by FIFA following the kiss and he subsequently revealed his resignation during an interview with Piers Morgan.

It came after Spain's FA called for Rubiales to step down after he kissed Hermoso following the country's victory in the Women's World Cup final. Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual.

He also resigned from his post as vice-president of UEFA's executive committee.

During an interview with Morgan on Talk TV's 'Piers Morgan Uncensored', Rubiales announced his retirement. He said: "I'm going to [resign]. I cannot continue my work."

When asked why he has decided to resign, Rubiales replied: "My father, my daughters, I spoke with them. They know it's not a question about me.

"Some friends, very close to me, they say 'Luis, you have to focus on your dignity and to continue your life, because you know probably that you are going to damage people you love and the sport you love.'"

The Spanish women's national team had said they would not play again until Rubiales was removed from his post. Hermoso also filed a lawsuit against Rubiales, accusing him of sexual assault.

Rubiales, on the other hand, stated the kiss was consensual and had previously refused to resign.

"There was not even the slightest discomfort, but an overflowing joy in both," Rubiales had said.

"The spontaneity and happiness of the historic moment led us to carry out a mutual and consented act, the product of great enthusiasm," he concluded.

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