Key takeaways:
- Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish soccer federation, was heavily criticized after he kissed a player on the lips without her consent following the Women’s World Cup final.
- The Spanish soccer federation has since issued an apology and expressed its commitment to respect and equality.
- The incident has reignited the debate on the need for greater respect for women in sports and the importance of consent in any physical contact, but Rubiales has refused to resign.
The Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales is facing heavy criticism after he kissed a player on the lips without her consent following the Women’s World Cup final. Despite the uproar, Rubiales refused to resign during an emergency general assembly of the federation on Friday.
At the meeting, Rubiales declared “I won’t resign” four times in quick succession and claimed he was a victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists.” The 46-year-old president of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) was expected to step down after the incident, which occurred during the award ceremony after Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, Australia.
The kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso was seen by a global audience and sparked a wave of criticism from fans and the media. Rubiales was accused of taking advantage of the moment to make a public display of affection and of disregarding Hermoso’s consent.
The Spanish soccer federation has since issued a statement apologizing for the incident and expressing its commitment to respect and equality. The statement also said that Rubiales had apologized to Hermoso and that the federation would take steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
The incident has reignited the debate on the need for greater respect for women in sports and the importance of consent in any physical contact. Despite the criticism, Rubiales has refused to resign and has defended his actions, claiming he was a victim of a witch hunt.
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