Last Sunday, the Spanish women’s soccer team was declared world champions for the first time in its history Thanks to Olga Carmona’s goal, she defeated England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand. One of the most important days in Spanish sport, but blurred after Luis Rubiales’ controversial kiss on Jenni Hermoso after winning the World Cup. The player downplayed the matter and the RFEF president apologized, but for many that’s not enough. Not only in Spain but also in the international press.
It was the trophy presentation ceremony where the players one by one collected the medal and waited for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to present them with the World Cup winners’ trophy. A historic event because it is the third World Cup in which the women’s soccer team took part and against almost all odds they managed to win the title. In addition, Spain is the second country after Germany whose men’s and women’s teams win the World Cup. Thus, Queen Letizia, who was present at the game, hugged the champions one by one, who later received congratulations from Rubiales. This in turn, He hugged them all, but when it was his turn to meet Jenni Hermoso, he grabbed her face and kissed her on the mouth, which drew everyone’s attention.
Rubiales resigns? Personalities like Irene Montero or Pedro Sánchez or international newspapers are against the President of the RFEF because of his kiss to Jenni Hermoso
“Eh, but I didn’t like it, eh,” said the top scorer in women’s history in the dressing room, but didn’t give it much meaning. But even the incumbent governor Pedro Sánchez told Rubiales that “apologies are not enough and more needs to be done.” And that is why the Federation itself announced an Extraordinary Assembly to inform “that the Federation’s internal procedures on integrity issues are open, as are the rest of the protocols in force.” August 25, from 12 noon at the headquarters of the Ciudad del Fútbol de las Rozas,” reads the statement published Tuesday night.
This is not surprising given that numerous people have been calling for Rubiales to be sacked as head of the federation. Not only nationally, but also internationally. For example, The New York Times highlights “this ugly reminder of many of the sexism scandals that have plagued women’s football”, reviewing what happened and also mentioning the players’ controversies with coach Jorge Vilda. For his part The Washington Post includes Rubiales’ statements but comments on Hermoso’s subsequent reaction. La Repubblica calls it a “scandal at the Women’s World Cup”. “The president of the Spanish Football Federation kisses the player on the mouth,” they add, like Le Figaro.
In France, L’Equipe said that “the head of the Spanish FA forcibly kisses a player on the mouth”. In addition to Hermoso’s reaction, this also includes that of Equal Opportunities Minister Irene Montero. There are now in the UK The Guardian headlined: “Spanish football president’s kiss sparks outrage after Women’s World Cup final.”