“One should not assume that kissing someone without consent is something that is simply done,” Monterová wrote.
“It is a form of sexual violence that we women suffer every day, which has been invisible until now, but which we must not accept as the norm,” added the 35-year-old politician. “Consent is important. Only yes is yes,” she emphasized.
Even the Minister for Social Rights, Ione Belarra, did not hide her disgust. “We all thought: If he does this in front of the whole world, what is he doing in private? Sexual violence against women has to stop,” she wrote.
Rubiales’ behavior was also condemned by the players’ association FIFPRO. “It is extremely regrettable that such a unique moment for the players of the Spanish national team, which took place in front of a worldwide television audience, was marred by the inappropriate behavior of an individual in a position that carries so much responsibility,” FIFPRO said in a statement. “Uninitiated and unwelcome physical gestures towards female players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context,” the organization added.
The 45-year-old Rubiales hugged each player tightly and kissed them on the cheek during the medal ceremony for the Spanish soccer players who beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday. But he also kissed Hermos directly on the mouth.
In a video from the locker room of the new champions, which was published by El Mundo newspaper and other media on social networks, Hermos can be heard telling her teammates that she did not like it.
In a later statement, the football association downplayed the incident for the Spanish news agency EFE. “It was a mutual gesture that was completely spontaneous, caused by the immense joy of winning the World Cup,” the association quoted Hermos as saying.
The best scorer of the Spanish national team refused to discuss another question on this topic on the radio station COPE Radio. “I wish they would make a controversial topic involving someone else. I’m the world champion and that’s what matters,” she stated.
2023-08-21 10:44:53
#Kissing #soccer #players #World #Cup #final #Sexual #violence #Spanish #minister
