“Outcry in the Escalation”
Ex-DFB goalkeeper shoots against Rummenigge and Co.
08/26/2023, 7:51 p.m
The former national goalkeeper Katja Kraus condemned the behavior of the Spanish association boss Luis Rubiales with clear words. At the same time, she attacks “Bundesliga officials” like Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who “openly dismiss this intolerable abuse of power as a trifle”.
In the Spanish kiss scandal after the World Cup final, the former soccer goalkeeper and official Katja Kraus called for further solidarity with Jennifer Hermoso beyond the borders of the world champion country. “The outcry in the escalation is not enough,” explained Kraus: “Everyone who is now at the side of Jennifer Hermoso and her colleagues must keep up the pressure to achieve real changes. In Spain and in football as a whole.”
In the afternoon, the world association FIFA announced the suspension of the Spanish association boss Luis Rubiales. Almost the entire coaching team of the world champions has since resigned. The 46-year-old kissed Hermoso on the mouth at the award ceremony after winning the title.
Hermoso said in a statement on Friday that she never consented to the kiss and that she felt “vulnerable and a victim of aggression, impulsive behavior, macho.” Rubiales had previously rejected an expected resignation, and the association even accused the world champion of lying after her renewed statement.
“Dismiss intolerable abuse of power as a trifle”
“The intolerable behavior of the Spanish President is obvious excess in a sports system in which male dominance and the exercise of power are still commonplace and largely accepted,” said Kraus: “Not only in Spain, but also here, where active Bundesliga officials experience this intolerable abuse of power candidly dismiss as a trifle.” Among others, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and record national player Lothar Matthäus had rated Rubiales’ attack as a trifle and not an action worthy of criticism.
The former international goalkeeper, who is now 52, was the first woman to be a board member at Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga. She is a co-founder of the “Football can do more” initiative, which campaigns for more diversity and equality in football. “Those who openly or at least mentally applauded Rubiale’s unmasking speech do not seem to be aware of their responsibility,” emphasized Kraus after the Spanish head of the association received applause in the hall after his speech on Friday. He refused to resign, he rather sees himself as a victim.