Spain’s Jenni Hermoso has called for “exemplary measures” to be taken against Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales following his unsolicited kiss on her lips after the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup.
As calls increased for Rubiales’ resignation following his behaviour at Sunday’s final in Sydney, American star Megan Rapinoe said the episode highlighted the level of “misogyny and sexism” within the Spanish organisation.
Rubiales had issued an apology on Monday for kissing Spain midfielder Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony – something Rapinoe described as a “physical assault” – and he was also pictured grabbing his crotch in celebration of his country’s win over England.
The incident sparked outrage within and outside Spain and many people, including government ministers, demanded his resignation.
“My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and have taken over as my interlocutors on this matter.” Hermoso said in a joint statement released by the union and her agency on Wednesday.
“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable.”
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez has described Rubiales’ apology as “insufficient”.
The Spanish federation has also announced it had called an extraordinary meeting of its general assembly for Friday, and “internal proceedings” were open in relation to integrity issues arising from the trophy ceremony.
Rapinoe, who featured in the World Cup for the United States, told American magazine The Atlantic: “There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man (Rubiales) at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.
“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy.”
Fifteen Spain players were involved in a dispute with the federation prior to the finals, with the coaching methods of Jorge Vilda reportedly among their concerns.
But the Spanish federation refused to budge, with a statement saying those involved would only be able to return to the national team “if they accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness”.
“Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: some of the players who stood up way back last year still aren’t on the team,” Rapinoe said.
“Maybe that was something that galvanised them, but you shouldn’t have to have that.”
Rubiales said on Monday the kiss happened “in a spontaneous way” and “without bad intention” but said it “seems like it has caused a commotion”.
Hermoso initially said on social media she “didn’t like” the kiss but a statement on her behalf was later released by the federation in which she described it as “spontaneous”.
FIFA has so far not issued any comment on the matter, and nor has UEFA, for whom Rubiales is an executive committee member and a vice-president.
World players’ union FIFPRO described Rubiales’ behaviour as “deeply lamentable”, adding: “Uninitiated and uninvited physical gestures towards players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context.”
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Glad to hear it, Frankly. Just wanted to make another two food-for-thought points: apologies if I’m beating you to making either yourself, Ben. - Other signs of Rubiales’ nature are already beginning to crawl out of the woodwork, but even if this was the only time Rubiales had overstepped, his position in the organisation would still make it problematic. There was the issue of coach Jorge Vilda. Now I don’t know whether any of Vilda’s behaviour was inappropriate, but 15 players obviously thought strongly enough that it was that they refused to work with him, and things didn’t end well for them. Now, how much more difficult would it be in future for players to bring themselves to complain about their coach to higher-ups if the very president of Spanish football himself had a cloud hanging over his head? - When the position being talked about is one of great power and scope, it shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as punishment to lose it. Rubiales had to be removed from the role of president as it he had made it untenable for him to remain (he will reportedly resign today). But he won’t suffer from losing his job the way average people might suffer. He won’t be homeless, and I doubt he will even be jobless (although he could afford that), just moved to a position of less importance. Like a politician losing a portfolio, I anticipate it as more akin to demotion than job “loss”.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
Okay Ben. I have changed my mind. I now understand the Hermoso kiss is not the only time Rubiales has crossed the line. I don't feel he believes he has done anything wrong either. I agree maybe losing his job is an appropriate punishment.
Ben
Roar Rookie
If youre genuinely interested in my opinion as you say, then your disbelieving sarcastic first paragraph is in contrast. Excuse me when i say i am always sceptical when people tell me they have friends that told them, or i know people that know people and they say, or all the people i spoke to say.....as if that actually counts for something. Its like saying, you know, im not offended by it, so why are you? My reason for mentioning the Air Force lady, is to show how much of an effect it has on victims. You never know the background for other people and what seems like just a kiss to you, can be a helluva lot more traumatic to other people, esp when the perpetrator is in a position of power like Rubiales is. You realise a forced, unwanted kiss can be an assault right? And if found guilty of that, esp in the workplace with a power inbalance, then that is serious misconduct in almost every organisations Code of Conduct and a sackable offence. If you took Rubiales to court over this, either criminally or employment, then date, time, place, circumstance would overwhelmingly show, it was part of the "workplace" as a whole. He would be gone.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
We are having a conversation because I have an opinion, and I'm interested in yours. I'm learning from our conversation despite not entirely agreeing with you. We are talking about a person that crossed a line, and kissed a woman on the lips. I will agree with you that it was wrong, and given the circumstances, he should be punished. I just don't agree that he should lose his job. The punishment doesn't match the crime. You have suggested I try sitting through a number of trials, as in court cases, where women are the victims of these sorts of incidents on a regular basis. You then mentioned a NZ Air Force lady was the subject of not only unwanted stuff like this but also other more serious stuff. Those court cases are not about a single kiss. That NZ lady experienced a lot more then a single kiss. I do have experience in this and my conclusion is different to yours. Further, I have been discussing this news article with many people, almostly women. They have had their own experiences of unwanted conduct from men. Not one of them has agreed with Rubiales losing his job.
Ben
Roar Rookie
You sound disbelieving......anyway i dont need to prove anything to you. If you look up $3xu@1 assault and the definition of, im sure you will get an idea of what it is. In most workplaces its not only an assault but a serious employment matter too. I was privvy to a case where a NZ Air Force lady was the subject of not only unwanted stuff like this but also other more serious stuff. As the song, goes, started with a kiss....i have seen first hand how "just a kiss" has been used in a defence and the profound effect it has on victims. But for you, with obviously zero experience in this or even the slightest hint at its effects, i guess ignorance is bliss. Cant believe we are even having this conversation to be honest...
moaman
Roar Guru
Frankly, Ben might be a lawyer or journalist for all you know, so I think you might want to leash your sarcasm a tiny bit eh? We just had a court case in NZ where that very subject was discussed and it doesn't make for comfortable listening I can tell you.
moaman
Roar Guru
How far is too far? I don't think I would appreciate someone grabbing my head and kissing me on the lips like that, under those circumstances, so I suppose that was too far. Haven't you received the memo about 'consent'? It was sent out circa 1980,wasn't it? Check your inbox mate.
moaman
Roar Guru
Sometimes the only way to elicit change is to blow things out of proportion. :thumbup:
Nobody
Roar Rookie
The part you seem to be missing is that it wasn’t just anyone forcing a kiss on someone else. That, although never appropriate, might sometimes only deserve a warning and/or a slap on the wrist. But it was the president of the Spanish football federation, doing it on the world stage. If he wasn’t already aware that such actions are utterly inappropriate, he was never suited to the job, simple as that. To quote Spain’s women’s football league, “A boss grabbing his employee by the head and kissing her on the mouth simply cannot be tolerated. It’s not just about the kiss.”
AndyS
Roar Rookie
I think Soccer has a great opportunity here to set the standard. Before any of the celebratory snogs that resulted from goals, winning the match, etc, everyone and especially the players should have stopped and sought formal consent before puckering up. Might have to form a queue, but some of those celebratory pile-ons must be a HR nightmare. Gotta be the change they want to see...
Nobody
Roar Rookie
It’s the end of the world as we know it It’s the end of the world as we know it It’s the end of the world as we know it I feel fine
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Piru, I reckon it's turned up in the Rugby section because the word 'union' is in the headline. There's a chance the Roar has some scripts to pick key words for automatically tagging articles.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
Interesting, you have sat through court cases where the defendant was accused of an unwanted kiss, or something similar? That sound likely. I remember hearing there was a time and place where people would lose a hand for stealing. That seems reasonable. I'm sure you agree.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
OMG, the world is going crazy... gone crazy.
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I think he should resign. And the next guy who forces a kiss, he should be made to resign as well. And on, and on, until the message gets through enough for someone to hesitate.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
He did grab her face and force himself into the kiss, but I would have thought the breast grope on the sideline would demand greater attention.
Bodger
Roar Rookie
The guy was genuinely over the moon that the Spanish women won the world cup. In the moment he kissed the captain as celebration. The guy got that wrong but this is also the president of a women's team who he helped win the world cup and is obviously fully behind them going by his celebration.
Ben
Roar Rookie
I think he should lose his job...yes. esp as Hermoso has voiced what she felt and wants to happen. It was unwanted, unwarranted, unsolicited and unnecessary. Try sitting through a number of trials, as in court cases, where women are the victims of these sorts of incidents on a regular basis and then come back and tell me it didnt affect you....only then will you probably get an idea how much it affects women victims.
Frankly
Roar Rookie
No, but that is irrelivant. I'm not saying he should be able to do what he did. I'm say the response is over the top, and blown out of proportion. Ben, do you think if someone makes a mistake, getting lost in the moment, should lose their job and the organisation they work for get branded as misogynist and sexist?
Frankly
Roar Rookie
Oh please, can the outrage be anymore over the top? Okay, a man kisses a women on the lips and then the whole organisation he works for is misogynist and sexist. What change needs to happen exactly? Blowing things out of proportion to make change. How far is too far? Should Rubiales be punished? If so, what should his punishment be? Should he be forced to resign? That is what some are suggesting. I don't think the punishment meets the crime.