The best female football players in the world announced a boycott because of the kiss

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During the awards ceremony after the final match of the tournament, the head of the RFEF stood on the podium along with other football officials. Rubiales openly rejoiced at the victory of his compatriots, hugging each of them and kissing them on the cheeks. He also kissed the head coach of the national team, Jorge Vilda, on the cheek. However, the public's attention was attracted by the moment of Rubiales' celebration with Jennifer Hermoso: Rubiales hugged the football player for a long time, and then squeezed her head with his palms and kissed her firmly on the lips, and then, when the football player walked towards the team, he patted her on the back.

At the moment of the scandalous kiss, Hermoso was not indignant: everything happened too quickly. And Rubiales continued to smile and reward the champions in his own manner: then he kissed the Golden Ball winner Alexia Putellas, but this time on the cheek. Rubiales later entered the winners' locker room and promised to pay for their trip to Ibiza, adding that it was there that he planned to marry Hermoso.

Reactions after the "final" kiss

After the match, in an atmosphere of celebration, Hermoso went live on social networks from the locker room, where she said that she did not like the kiss, but she could not do anything about it. Rubiales, in turn, admitted that he made a mistake, being overwhelmed with emotions due to the victory.

Later, RFEF published a statement in which, on behalf of the football player, it was said that the kiss was spontaneous, but mutual. Hermoso's quote also spoke of the team's good relationship with the federation president. However, later on Twitter , Hermoso said that this version was not entirely true, and she was being pressured into making a statement justifying Rubiales' behavior.

Rubiales himself also spoke out. According to his version, the kiss occurred by mutual consent. He recalls that at that moment he advised the girl to forget about the penalty she had not taken and suggested that she “smack her lips,” to which she allegedly agreed. Hermoso categorically denies that such a dialogue took place.

“I am obliged to report that Mr. Rubiales' words explaining this unfortunate incident are categorically false and part of a manipulative culture that he himself has created. <…> I felt vulnerable, the victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act without any consent on my part,” said the world champion.

Who's on Hermoso's side?

They expressed their solidarity with Hermoso and other football players in the Spanish Parliament. Equality Minister Irene Montero called such non-consensual kissing a “form of sexual violence.” Spain's Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Diaz spoke out against machismo and said Rubiales could no longer hold his post.

World champion, two-time European champion and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, who was emotional after winning the 2010 World Cup and kissed a journalist on the lips (though it was his girlfriend), called Rubiales’ decision not to resign “a disgrace . ” He was supported by another star Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea, the former Manchester United goalkeeper. “My ears are bleeding,” he wrote after Rubiales’ press conference.

There is complete unanimity in women's football: even the English, who lost to the Spanish in the final, support Hermoso. Former England player Casey Stoney suggested whether Rubiales would have kissed a male footballer on the lips in celebration of victory. In the US major league, San Diego Wave and Orlando Pride football players wore Contigo Jenni headbands to the match! (from Spanish: "With you, Jenny"). The action was also supported by some of the best strikers in the history of women's football - American Alex Morgan and Brazilian Marta.

International support is also supported by the complete unity of the Spanish women themselves: at least 80 Spanish football players have announced a boycott of matches for the national team until the leadership of the federation resigns.

Who's on Rubiales' side?

Rubiales is protected by the RFEF, which he heads. During a press conference in front of his subordinates, he repeated five times in a row that he had no intention of resigning. In his half-hour speech, he also spoke about “fake feminism” in Spain and his friendship with women’s national team coach Vilda. He called criticism of himself because of the kiss “social murder.” At the end of his speech, Rubiales received a standing ovation from the entire audience, including the women.

RFEF also released a statement saying that Rubiales' version of events is absolutely true. Moreover, the message provides “photo evidence” that it was Hermoso who was the first to make contact with the president, hugged him and even lifted him in the air. However, the federation does not specify how the fact of active consent to a kiss follows from this. His mother Angeles Bejar also stood up for Rubiales. She went on a hunger strike in protest and intends to stop the persecution of her son in this way.

On 26 August, the Spanish Football Federation threatened to sue Jenny Hermoso for libel against Rubiales. There have also been warnings of possible legal action against female players who signed a letter in which the athletes refused to play for their country while Luis Rubiales remains their boss.

RFEF is a private organization that is in no way dependent on the state and claims to be autonomous. The Minister of Culture and Sports of Spain, Mikel Iseta, noted that the issue of Rubiales' resignation should be dealt with by the leadership of the organization, in particular the General Assembly (of which Rubiales is also the main functionary ). But since there was no condemnation from the RFEF, the executive branch and the court will intervene in the matter, concluded . Iseta

The Supreme Sports Council (CSD) filed a petition with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where it asks to check Rubiales not only because of the incident with Hermoso, but also because of the gesture - during the celebration of the victory, Rubiales grabbed his genitals, making a rude gesture (and did this while standing next to the Spanish Queen and her daughter). The head of the RFEF nevertheless apologized for this gesture .

Long-lasting conflict

The Spanish women's national football team was in conflict with the leadership even before the start of the World Cup. The head coach of the “Red Fury” ( that’s what the Spanish national team is called. - Kholod’s note ) raised a lot of questions (who also had a scandal in the final: a television camera captured the moment when he grabbed his female colleague by the breast during the celebration goal). Last September, was published the “letter of fifteen” - an appeal from 15 female football players who refused to be called up to the national team while Vilda remained its coach. It was as a protest against Vilda’s coaching work that did not go to the World Cup. one of the best defenders of Spain and Barcelona, Mapi Leon,

Many female football players called the Spanish manager's working methods dictatorial. According to some reports , Vilda demanded that the athletes keep the doors to their rooms open: this way he could check whether they were following their sleep schedule. He also controlled what the players bought in the store and who they went out for coffee with.

However, the letter and the dissatisfaction expressed by the football players did not shake his authority, since at that moment the president of the federation, Rubiales, gave him his support. Even if the players were able to remove Vilda from the post of head coach, he would still remain a key figure in women's football in Spain, holding other positions within the federation.

Rubiales is no stranger to scandal. In 2022, he allegedly, with the help of the company of former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, managed to agree on holding the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, and Pique received 24 million euros for organizing the tournament. Rubiales is also suspected of embezzling money from the federation for an alleged business trip to New York - according to some reports, he went to the United States on vacation with his beloved.

What's the result?

On August 26, the Disciplinary Committee of the International Football Federation (FIFA) suspended Rubiales for 90 days. The organization also banned him from communicating with Hermoso and her family, even through third parties, and opened disciplinary proceedings against him. In addition, the Madrid prosecutor's office accepted an application to initiate proceedings against Rubiales on charges of sexualized violence.

The head coach of the national team, Jorge Vilda, remained in his post. However, his entire coaching staff, including his assistants, goalkeeper coach and physiotherapist, resigned . Although almost immediately after the final, Rubiales promised Vilde a contract extension for four years with a salary of half a million euros a year - colossal money for women's football.

All 23 players who won soccer's premier tournament a week ago are refusing to play for the national team until Rubiales is sacked from his post. against Hermoso They are threatening to open a libel case . Supporting Spanish footballers were also threatened with “necessary legal action” for refusing to play for the national team. The federation reminded that playing for the national team is the responsibility of the football player who is chosen by the coach, but emphasized that they respect the opinion of the female football players.

Rubiales' fate now depends on the decision of the sports court, the Spanish prosecutor's office and the favor of FIFA. The main functionary of Spanish football will have to wait at least three months for a decision, but it can already be assumed that his return to the post is unlikely.