“Did not like it”
Spain’s soccer boss kisses the world champion on the mouth
8/21/2023 3:18 am
A scene after the World Cup final triggers a sexism debate: At the award ceremony for the Spanish women, soccer boss Luis Rubiales kisses the title winner Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth. The offensive player later indicated that she didn’t want that.
A kiss from Spain’s association president Luis Rubiales for footballer Jennifer Hermoso at the award ceremony after winning the World Cup final caused criticism. Rubiales hugged and hugged the Spanish players at the ceremony following Sunday’s 1-0 win over England in Sydney.
Videos posted on social media showed the head of the Spanish federation kissing Hermoso on the mouth after a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I didn’t like it,” said the 33-year-old offensive player later when asked about the scene. In another video she asks: “What should I have done?”
On social media, many users expressed clear criticism of Rubiales’ behavior. But not only that. The Spanish Minister for Equality Irene Montero wrote on the X platform, formerly Twitter, that the kiss was a “form of sexual violence”. “We shouldn’t assume that kissing without consent is something that just ‘happens’.” Consent is key. “Only yes means yes.”
in one comment the Spanish newspaper with the highest circulation, “El País”, said that the World Cup triumph was “more than a title” for the Spanish women. “The women, the girls of this country celebrated the fact that our tenacity has finally defeated machismo,” it said loudly “New York Times”. “The kiss of Rubiales to Hermoso reminds us that we still have a long way to go”.
The relationship between the Spanish soccer players and the association is considered to be extremely strained. The reason is coach Jorge Vilda. After the European Championship, 15 national players sent a boycott letter to the Spanish association RFEF in September and declared their temporary resignation. In it they wrote that the situation was unbearable, the players saw their health and emotional state affected. At the time, they had accused the coach of highly questionable methods.
According to media reports, the relationship between Vilda and the team is still not trouble-free. The association and its boss Rubiales presented themselves to Vilda at the time. Three players – Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey and Ona Batlle – were back in the selection.