Spain’s women’s football team will not play unless the boss is fired.
Dozens of Spanish players have signed an open letter in support of Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed by the head of Spain’s football association following the team’s World Cup victory.
The entire Spanish Women’s World Cup football squad, as well as hundreds of additional players, announced on Friday that they will not represent their country unless Luis Rubiales is ousted as president of the national football association.
Rubiales received widespread condemnation in Spain for kissing top player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent at the Women’s World Cup last Sunday.
In the days that followed, he repeatedly refused to stand down, defending his kiss as “mutual, euphoric, and consensual.”
Hermoso, on the other hand, rejected this in a statement signed by 56 female Spanish football players on Friday.
“I want to clarify that, as the images show, I never consented to the kiss he gave me,” Hermoso stated in a statement.
“I do not tolerate having my word called into question,” Hermoso stated, dismissing any words ascribed to her by Rubiales in his address.
She and the other signatories stated that they would not return to the squad unless the leadership of the federation was ousted.
“We want to express that if the current leaders remain in place, all of the players signing this letter will not return to play for the national team,” the letter stated.
Rubiales might face suspension.
The CSD, Spain’s main sports organisation, said on Friday that Rubiales will be suspended.
The country’s sports minister, Victor Francos, said the government will “initiate proceedings” to demand Rubiales to explain himself before a tribunal as soon as feasible.
Rubiales would subsequently be suspended if the administrative court determines that the contentious kiss, which Hermoso described as undesired, breached the country’s sports code.
“I think we can say it’s the MeToo of Spanish football,” Francos told reporters only hours after Rubiales said he would not resign.
“Something has to change. “The government wants to warn, to be clear, and to say that certain things will not happen again,” he continued.
Liga F, Spain’s women’s football division, stated it has also filed a complaint with the CSD about Rubiales’ “very serious actions and behaviour.”
“A boss grabbing his employee by the head and kissing her on the lips simply cannot be tolerated,” it stated.
The debate has spread to Spanish politics.
Rubiales was chastised by Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and a number of government ministers, some of whom Rubiales threatened to sue for their remarks.