Scandal at the World Cup award ceremony
Football boss Rubiales kisses a Spaniard after the final – she calls it a “gesture of friendship”
Spanish soccer player Jennifer Hermoso after the World Cup final in Sydney. The team won the Women’s World Cup against England.
© Isabel Infantes / DPA
Spain’s soccer boss Luis Rubiales kisses player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth at the World Cup awards ceremony. Neither she nor many others like that, as can be seen from the reactions on the Internet.
“I didn’t like it,” said the 33-year-old offensive player later when asked about the scene. In a live Instagram video, Hermoso is also asked why she wouldn’t have done anything about it, she replied, “What should I have done?”
“This is a form of sexual violence”: the network is outraged after an unwanted kiss
Many users on social media expressed clear criticism of Rubiales’ behavior – including the Spanish Minister for Equal Opportunities, who wrote on “X”, formerly Twitter: “This is a form of sexual violence.” A kiss without consent is not something that just happens. You shouldn’t normalize that, she writes about the debate.
The Spanish daily newspaper agrees “El País” and headlines on her website: “Jenni didn’t like Rubiales’ kiss, and neither did we”. The text goes on to say: “A furtive kiss is not always a wanted kiss.” A surprising kiss on the mouth is aggression, the newspaper criticizes – especially if the kiss comes from a superior. These gestures cannot be justified.
Hermoso and Rubiales are unperturbed by criticism
Shortly thereafter, however, Hermoso dismissed the critical comments. “It was a very spontaneous mutual gesture because of the great joy of winning a World Cup,” she shared. Hermoso’s statement was sent to some media by the Spanish federation RFEF late Sunday evening and was published by the Europa Press news agency, among others. In it, the 33-year-old forward for Mexican club Pachuca added: “The ‘Presi’ and I have a great relationship. His behavior towards all of us was excellent and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”
One should “not pay too much attention to this gesture of friendship and gratitude”. “We have won a World Cup and we will not be distracted from what is important,” said Hermoso.
According to media reports, Rubiales also downplayed the kiss. In a radio interview with Radio Marca, it said: “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a moment of affection that has no further meaning, you shouldn’t listen to idiots. We are the winners and I stand by that.”
Many react in horror to “X”: For example, one user writes “Women cannot even enjoy their World Cup win for 10 minutes without being sexually harassed.” Another: “Women win the world title and the patriarchy strikes back. It’s so disgusting.”
The Spanish team had previously beaten England 1-0 in the final of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney. The Spanish captain Olga Carmona scored the decisive death in the 29th minute.