Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has said he will continue defending himself “to prove the truth”.
Rubiales, 46, has been widely criticised after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win in Sydney, Australia on 20 August.
Hermoso said the kiss during the medal ceremony was not consensual.
Rubiales has repeatedly refused to resign despite being suspended by world football’s governing body Fifa.
In his first public comments since 25 August, when he refused to step down at an extraordinary general assembly called by the federation (RFEF), Rubiales acknowledged he had “made mistakes” but repeated his belief that the kiss was consensual.
He added: “I will continue to defend myself to prove the truth.”
Earlier, Spain’s national sports tribunal (TAD) opened a misconduct case against him.
The TAD ruled Rubiales committed a “serious offence” by kissing Hermoso, but stopped short of the “very serious offence” charge the government had requested which would have led to his suspension.
In response, sports minister Miquel Iceta called for Rubiales’ temporary suspension until the case has been resolved.
“The Sports Council and the government believe the RFEF president’s actions should be classified as a very serious abuse of authority which damages the image of Spanish football,” he said.
Rubiales, who also grabbed his crotch while celebrating in the VIP area in Stadium Australia, with Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter standing nearby, continued: “On 20 August, I made some obvious mistakes, for which I sincerely, from the heart, regret.
“I’ve learned that no matter how great the joy and how deep the emotion, even when you win a World Cup, sports leaders should be held to exemplary behaviour, and mine was not so.
“I still have confidence in the independence of the bodies where this matter should be resolved, despite the political pressure and the interest-driven brutality of certain media outlets.
“Although information about this matter is being subjected to numerous manipulations, lies, and censorship, the truth has only one path, and that’s why I repeat, I trust that justice will be served.”
He added: “I want to send a message to all the good people in our country and beyond our borders, including those women who have really been attacked and who have my full support and understanding: this is not about gender, it is about truth.”