The pressure campaign escalated on the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, against the background of his kissing the star of the national team, Jennifer Hermoso, on the lips, after “La Roja” won the Women’s World Cup. Where some went to demand his resignation.
And the local federation for the game announced, on Tuesday, that it would call for an extraordinary general assembly on Friday as an “urgent matter” to address what happened.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who took office in June 2018, confirmed that Rubiales’s (45-year-old) apology was “insufficient” and that “what we saw was unacceptable behavior” after he kissed Hermoso (33-year-old) on the lips. After Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the final of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, he contented himself with kissing or hugging other female players on the cheek.
Rubiales speaks with two players in the Spanish national team during the honoring ceremony (EPA)
And he added during a press conference, after a meeting with King Felipe VI: “I also think that the apology made by Rubiales is not enough; I even think that it is not appropriate, and that he should go further than that.
When asked if he wanted Rubiales to resign, Sanchez merely stated that the federation is not an organization of the Spanish government, in other words, it cannot interfere in its affairs.
“The twenty-first century must be – and I am convinced it will be – the century of women on all fronts,” he said during the reception of the Spanish national team, on Tuesday.
And he added, “I believe that women’s football and women’s sports have a great future. All we can say as representatives of Spanish society is that Spain is proud of you.
Rubiales also attended the reception, and received a frosty greeting from Sanchez upon his arrival. In the same context, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Dias called on Monday Rubiales to resign, saying that his “excuses are completely useless,” while Equality Minister Irene Montero said that a non-consensual kiss is “a type of sexual violence that all women suffer daily.” ».
“It’s very simple,” Montero said on social media. Two people kiss if they want to, if there is consent. Yes, only she is.
The Association of Spanish Footballers also called on the “concerned authorities to take the necessary measures” given the seriousness of the “incident,” stressing: “The protocol of the Supreme Council of Sports to combat sexual violence includes kissing by force … as unacceptable behavior that leads to immediate consequences.”
As the controversy over the kiss intensified, Rubiales apologized Monday in a video posted on social media.
“I definitely made a mistake and I have to admit that,” he said. It happened without any ill intent, in a moment of great joy. Here we see it (the qiblah) as normal; But outside it made a mess.”
Rubiales continued, “I have no choice but to apologize and learn from that… When representing the federation, I should be more attentive,” criticizing the uproar caused by this matter.
Rubiales also stressed that he had a “wonderful relationship” with Hermoso, who defended the president of her federation after kissing her: “I didn’t like it,” although she was laughing while she spoke.
She said this moment stemmed from a “natural emotional disposition”.
Part of the arrival of Spain’s World Cup winning team, Rubiales appears (EPA)
“It was a spontaneous and reciprocal act because of the immense joy that winning the World Cup brings,” Hermoso said, in statements reported by the Spanish Federation.
And she added, “The president and I have a good relationship, and his behavior with all of us was wonderful, and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude … We won the World Cup and we will not deviate from what is important.”
2023-08-23 09:25:12
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