Rubiales faces backlash for kissing player without consent
Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has announced his intention to resign from his post after facing widespread criticism for kissing a female player on the mouth without her consent. The incident occurred during the celebrations after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday.
Rubiales, 46, grabbed midfielder Jennifer Hermoso and kissed her on the lips while handing her the medal. He also celebrated the win by grabbing his genitals, which was seen as a disrespectful gesture by many. The RFEF initially defended Rubiales, saying that it was a “spontaneous celebration” and that he had a good relationship with the players. However, Hermoso later said that she did not like the kiss and that she felt uncomfortable.
The kiss sparked outrage within and outside Spain, with many people, including government ministers, players, coaches, and human rights organizations, demanding his resignation and condemning his behavior as a form of sexual violence. FIFA, the global governing body of football, also opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales for violating its code of conduct.
Rubiales apologizes but refuses to step down
Rubiales initially laughed off the incident and branded his critics as “idiots” for reading too much into it. He later issued an apology, which was also criticized as insufficient and unconvincing by many. He said that he was sorry if he had offended anyone and that he had acted impulsively in the heat of the moment. He also claimed that the kiss was consensual and that he was the victim of “social assassination”.
However, his apology did not appease his detractors, who continued to pressure him to resign. Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Rubiales’s apology was not enough and that he must take further steps to be held accountable. Spain’s Minister for Equality Irene Montero said that feminism was changing everything and that Rubiales’s behavior was unacceptable.
The RFEF called an emergency assembly on Friday, where Rubiales announced his decision to resign. He said that he had made a mistake and that he wanted to end the controversy for the sake of Spanish football. He also thanked the players and staff for their support and wished them success in the future.
Reaction from players and football world
Hermoso, who scored four goals in the tournament and was one of the key players for Spain, released a joint statement with Futpro, a players’ union, on Wednesday. The statement said that they were working to ensure that acts such as those seen by Rubiales never go unpunished and that they were seeking exemplary measures to protect women footballers from actions that they believe are unacceptable.
Other players also expressed their displeasure with Rubiales’s kiss. England captain Steph Houghton said that she was shocked and disgusted by what she saw and that it was disrespectful to Hermoso and all women footballers. She also said that she hoped that FIFA would take appropriate action against Rubiales.
Several football clubs and associations also voiced their disapproval of Rubiales’s conduct. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said that it was a very delicate topic and that he did not like Rubiales’s behavior at all. He also said that he hoped that such incidents would not happen again in the future. The Spanish Women’s League and several men’s La Liga clubs also issued statements condemning Rubiales and calling for his resignation.
Amnesty International, a human rights organization, also offered their support to Hermoso and said that Rubiales’s kiss was a form of sexual violence like any other and that it could not be justified in any way. They also urged the RFEF to adopt measures to prevent such acts from occurring again.
