By Fawaz Adebisi
In a shocking turn of events, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), is facing intense scrutiny and backlash for kissing Jenni Hermoso, the star striker of Spain’s women’s national team, after their historic victory at the Women’s World Cup.
The incident took place during the medal ceremony following Spain’s hard-fought 1-0 win against England in the final held in Sydney, Australia.
Hermoso, a pivotal player in Spain’s journey to victory, took to Instagram to express her discomfort with the unsolicited kiss.
However, a statement subsequently released on her behalf defended Rubiales’ actions as a “natural gesture of affection.”
This defense did not deter government minister Irene Montero, who pointed out that such actions constitute a form of sexual violence that women endure daily and should not be normalized.
The controversy has also ignited a heated debate both in Spain and on social media platforms.
The hashtag ‘dimision ya,’ translating to ‘resign now’ in English, trended on various social media channels as many criticized Rubiales for what they saw as an invasion of Hermoso’s personal space.
In the same vein , the incident sparked broader discussions about consent and respectful behavior in the sports arena.
Reacting to this, Rubiales, for his part, dismissed the criticism during an interview with Spanish broadcaster COPE.
He characterized the kiss as a celebration between friends and labelled those who disagreed as “idiots and stupid people.”
Rubiales therefore urged everyone to focus on the positive aspects of the victory and ignore the detractors.
Despite the controversy surrounding Rubiales’ actions, Spain’s achievement of winning their first Women’s World Cup title was monumental.
The victory, however, was somewhat overshadowed by the incident, which has prompted a reevaluation of how female athletes are treated and respected within the world of sports.
As the nation celebrates this historic accomplishment, questions linger about how such incidents can influence perceptions of women in sports and the broader implications for gender equality.
