By Alana Frank
Theme Editor
The Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales has rightfully been the subject in the football world and social media due to his non-consensual actions surrounding Spain’s women’s national team’s World Cup victory on August 20. Rubiales not only grabbed and touched players inappropriately after the match, but he planted a kiss on the lips of Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso, without her consent. Rubiales’s denial of the non-consensual nature of his actions, as well as his reluctancy to resign, demonstrate the culture within football where those in positions of power remain silent when action must be taken.
After weeks of close matches and a near elimination, Spain’s women’s national team emerged as World Cup champions, making Spain the only country to win both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Unfortunately, the Spanish player’s victory was short lived, as Time Magazine reported Rubiales’s behavior at the game quickly changed the players’ demeanors according to Time Magazine. Over the past few weeks, Rubiales’s actions have shown both the unity and arrogance within the sport.
Shortly after their victory, all members of the championship team signed a petition, stating their refusal to play another game until the president of the football federation is removed. Players and other athletes were quick to show their support for Hermoso and the team, writing “#ContigoJenni” on armbands. Additionally, according to CNN, players from Spain’s men’s national football team issued a statement condemning the behavior of Rubiales. While these players’ actions are admirable and important, Rubiales’s continued negligence towards them exposes his arrogant belief that he is untouchable.
After the team released their petition regarding their intention to not play until Rubiales is removed, the president wasted no time in addressing the matter himself. According to The Guardian, Rubiales claimed the team’s objective was not seeking justice but instead carrying out a social assassination at an assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) while Hermoso said that she felt “the victim of aggression, a sexist act”. Rubiales’s insistence in labeling the team’s actions as “fake feminism”, is shameful, but unfortunately not entirely new in the world of football.
Over the years, numerous investigations into head coaches and managers of football teams have been initiated, only to be shut down or overturned due to lackluster claims of insufficient evidence. Most notably however involved 15 players from Spain’s women’s national team, who, as reported by The Guardian in September 2021, wrote a letter to the RFEF. In the letter, these players explained their decision to withdraw from the team due to adverse effects on mental health until the head coach was removed. The RFEF quickly clamped down on the players and supported the head coach of the team, Jorge Vilda, showing how quick leadership is to dismiss claims over athletes’ health, especially females.
While Vilda was under the impression that the investigation into Rubiales would have little effect on him, he was fired on September 5 amid the fallout from the World Cup kiss fallout. According to CNN, the team has appointed its first ever female head coach. Additionally, Rubiales was handed a 90-day suspension by FIFA, the global governing body of football. Fortunately, the RFEF’ interim president announced that Vilda’s removal is only the first step into restructuring the federation, demonstrating how vital the change in leadership was.
Despite his suspension and the removal of Jorge Vilda, Rubiales still claims that the kiss was mutual and that his actions were not inappropriate as reported by The Guardian. This incident reveals the attempts to cover up claims from female players and calls for individuals in positions of power within the football world to be appalled by Rubiales’ behavior, rather than applauding it.
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