Spain’s acting prime minister on Tuesday said it was “unacceptable” that the Royal Spanish Football Federation president kissed a player on the lips without her consent, as pressure builds on Luis Rubiales to resign for tarnishing the team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup championship.
Spanish Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised the team during an audience at the presidential palace and later joined the growing criticism of Rubiales.
“What we saw is unacceptable,” Sanchez said. “And the apologies offered by Mr Rubiales are not sufficient. I would call them inappropriate, so he must continue taking further steps to clarify what we all saw.”
Photo: AFP
Late on Tuesday, the federation announced it would hold an emergency meeting of its general assembly tomorrow. It is unclear if Rubiales can maintain the backing of the leaders of Spain’s regional soccer organizations.
The federation said it was opening an internal probe “regarding the incidents during the awards ceremony Women’s World Cup.”
Gender equality and women’s rights have been cornerstones of Sanchez’s administration, but Spain’s Women’s World Cup success has been marred by the forced kiss Rubiales gave to player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory on Sunday in the final against England in Sydney, Australia.
After claiming that those who criticized his kiss were “idiots and stupid people,” Rubiales was forced to apologize on Monday.
Rubiales accompanied the team and staff to the meeting with Sanchez, who greeted him with a handshake.
The forced kiss caused an immediate outcry both inside Spain and abroad.
Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz said that Rubiales “has harassed and assaulted” a woman and called for his resignation.
The country’s equality minister said it was an act of “sexual assault.”
Under a new sexual violence law, the unsolicited kiss, during which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s face before giving her a kiss on the mouth, could potentially be pursued as a crime.
Immediately after Spain’s victory, Rubiales had also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia and Queen Letizia of Spain standing nearby.
Spain’s players union, which Rubiales used to head, issued a statement on Tuesday calling for the Spanish Higher Council for Sports to act against Rubiales if he does not step down.
The union cited Spain’s sports law that sanctions acts that “damage the dignity” of someone or “creates an atmosphere of intimidation” based on unwanted conduct related to gender or race.
“The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power,” the union said. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behavior of the federation president.”
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