BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — First he backed his beleaguered boss. Then he condemned him. Now he is saying sorry for his part in the scandal that has tarnished Spanish football.

The coach of Spain’s men’s national football team begged for forgiveness Friday for applauding the claim by Luis Rubiales that he was the victim of a smear campaign from “false feminists” following an uproar after he kissed a player on the lips at the Women’s World Cup.

“I don’t think I have to resign, I think I have to ask for forgiveness,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said in Madrid in his first public appearance since Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on August 20 after the final in Sydney, Australia. “I made a human error. It was inexcusable.”

De la Fuente spoke one week after he clapped several times during an emergency general assembly of the Spanish football federation when Rubiales, the organisation’s president, refused to step down as was expected. Rubiales’ speech included claims that Hermoso had consented to his kiss during the awards ceremony — a claim she has denied — and against what he called the “scourge” of feminism in Spain.

Interim federation president Pedro Rocha, who Rubiales arranged to be his provisional successor, has said that the federation completely backs De la Fuente.

Rocha, however, did not give Vilda the same backing. He said Thursday that Vilda’s future would be decided after a meeting at the federation next week. Most of Vilda’s staff has resigned.

While the entire women’s team plus a dozen other players have said they will not play again for Spain as long as Rubiales’ remains in charge, only one male player, Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias, has said he won’t play for his nation again until “things change.”