The captain of the Spanish women’s national team issued a public apology on Monday after the soccer team faced massive backlash for a video posted last week that showed four players seemingly mocking a traditional dance of the indigenous people of New Zealand. 

Ivana Andres, 29, read a statement at a greeting ceremony in the North Island city of Palmerston North to address the controversy that followed a video which showed some members of their Women’s World Cup squad laughing as they attempted the traditional haka. 

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"We’ve only been in Aotearoa, New Zealand for a few days and we have so much to learn about your culture," a translation of Andres’ statement read, according to Reuters. "Therefore, thank you so much for the kindness to dedicate a few minutes of your wisdom, especially in such (an) important moment as Matariki."

Matariki, which falls on July 14, signifies the New Year in the Maori culture. 

"We’d also like to see Matariki as a way to renovate our excitement and for us to learn to enjoy, to share and to reach for new goals and to ask for forgiveness for our mistakes and to learn more each day."

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Members of the local tribe were present at the ceremony. They were gifted with a jersey that had the word Papaioea on it, the Maori name for Palmerston North. 

"This shirt represents everything we have to fight for, our sacrifices, our victories, and we hope that you see the privilege we have of playing this tournament in your land."

A Rangitane O Manawatu iwi spokesperson said Andres’ apology "came from the heart" and showed a level of understanding for the importance of the haka. 

The apology came just days before Spain’s opening match against Costa Rica on Friday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Two leaders are out at an Indiana addiction treatment center after three recent deaths and calls by police to yank its license.

The executive director and director of nursing are no longer working at Praxis Landmark Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation site for men near South Bend, the company told WNDU-TV.

Other senior managers "will supervise the facility around the clock," Landmark Recovery said in a statement released Friday. "This ensures our patients stay safe during this time."

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Three men have died since July 4 and another man was revived with multiple doses of Narcan, authorities said.

Landmark Recovery said it will not accept new patients until "we confirm that all staff meet our high standards."

The St. Joseph County Police Department has asked state regulators to investigate the 160-bed facility and revoke its license.

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There have been more than 200 calls to police and fire departments in 2023, said Troy Warner, a spokesperson for county police.

Those incidents include nine overdoses, two rapes, a sexual assault and a stabbing, he said.

"The facility is a large drain on our county first-responder resources and is harmful to its patients and our community," Warner wrote to Jay Chaudhary, director of the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Landmark Recovery, a Tennessee-based company that has locations in 10 states, said a national accrediting agency, the Joint Commission, visited the facility. The Indiana center opened in 2022.

"The full report is not yet available, but the preliminary findings indicate that our care model is sound. We look forward to sharing more in the future," Landmark Recovery said.