Jennifer Hermoso, a World Cup champion with Spain, has referred to as on the Spanish soccer federation to take “exemplary measures” against its president, Luis Rubiales, after he gave her a kiss on the lips with out consent in the course of the staff’s medal ceremony on Sunday.
“My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter,” Hermoso said in a statement Wednesday. “From FUTPRO we express our firm and resounding condemnation of conduct that violates the dignity of women.”
The Spanish soccer federation introduced Tuesday it’s going to maintain an emergency assembly of its normal meeting on Friday. The federation mentioned it was opening an inside probe “regarding the incidents during the awards ceremony Women’s World Cup.”
Liga F, the premier membership league in Spain, additionally introduced on Wednesday that it filed a criticism with the president of the Higher Sports Council calling for Rubiales’s resignation.
Spain’s Higher Council for Sports advised The Associated Press that on Tuesday it obtained a proper criticism against Rubiales filed by the president of Spain’s nationwide college for soccer coaches, Miguel Galan. It mentioned it was learning the criticism.
Sumar, a left-wing political occasion led by Díaz, additionally mentioned it had filed an official criticism with Spain’s Higher Council for Sports.
Spain’s appearing prime minister mentioned it was “unacceptable” that the Spanish soccer federation president kissed a player on the lips with out her consent. Pedro Sánchez praised the staff throughout an viewers on the presidential palace on Tuesday.
“What we saw is unacceptable,” Sánchez mentioned. “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.”
Gender equality and ladies’s rights have been cornerstones of Sánchez’s leftist authorities. But Spain’s Women’s World Cup success has been marred by the pressured kiss Rubiales gave to participant Jenni Hermoso in the course of the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory on Sunday within the remaining against England in Sydney, Australia.
After claiming that those that criticized his kiss have been “idiots and stupid people,” Rubiales was pressured to apologize on Monday.
Rubiales accompanied the staff and employees to the assembly with Sánchez, who greeted him with a handshake.
The pressured kiss induced a right away outcry each inside Spain and overseas. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz mentioned Rubiales “has harassed and assaulted” a girl and referred to as for his resignation.
The nation’s equality minister mentioned it was an act of “sexual assault.” Under a brand new sexual violence legislation, the unsolicited kiss, throughout which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s face earlier than giving her a kiss on the mouth, might probably be pursued as a criminal offense.
Immediately after Spain’s victory, Rubiales had additionally grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain standing close by.
The nation’s main opposition occasion has joined in denouncing Rubiales’ habits, leaving him with none assist from main public or political figures.
Asked if Rubiales ought to go, Sánchez mentioned that it was not his name to make as a result of the Spanish soccer federation shouldn’t be managed by the federal government. But Sánchez did say Rubiales “has yet to be clear and compelling in his apologies.”
Spain’s gamers union, which Rubiales used to head, issued an announcement on Tuesday calling for Spain’s Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports activities, to act against Rubiales if he doesn’t step down. The union cited Spain’s sports activities legislation that sanctions acts that “damage the dignity” of somebody or “creates an atmosphere of intimidation” primarily based on unwanted conduct associated 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 mentioned. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behavior of the federation president.”
During the celebrations on Monday within the capital, Hermoso prevented commenting on the incident.
“We’re world champions, aren’t we?” she mentioned. “Right now I think it’s too much.”
Players and employees landed late Monday in Madrid after a 20-plus hour flight from Sydney. They were greeted by thousands in a celebration that lasted till previous midnight.
Sánchez mentioned the staff members can be awarded Spain’s golden medal of sports activities achievement.
“You have achieved something very important. The girls who watch you see soccer as a place where they can develop athletically and personally, “Sánchez mentioned whereas posing for a gaggle photograph with the soccer staff in Madrid. “The 21st century will be the century of women on all fronts, and the century of effective equality between men and women.”
The 45-year-old Rubiales is a former participant who led the world gamers’ union’s Spanish affiliate for eight years earlier than being elected to lead the nationwide soccer federation in 2018. Since then, he has revamped the Spanish Super Cup, taking it to Saudi Arabia for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, in a transfer criticized by human rights teams. Last 12 months, Spain’s state prosecutors’ workplace introduced it was opening a probe into the contracts behind the Super Cup move.
Rubiales is now selling a joint bid by Spain, Portugal and Morocco to host the lads’s World Cup in 2030. The bid might probably embrace Ukraine as nicely. Neither FIFA nor UEFA have commented on his conduct on the remaining.
Rubiales is up for re-election subsequent 12 months. The president of the soccer federation is chosen by representatives of golf equipment, gamers, coaches, referees and regional federation heads.
The Spain squad was in near-mutiny last year due to some gamers’ complaints in regards to the tradition beneath coach Jorge Vilda, demanding higher teaching and preparation to get extra out of the staff.
Rubiales backed Vilda and solely three of the 15 gamers who complained have been included on the World Cup staff. The federation did take some steps towards enhancing the circumstances of the gamers, which included a monetary package deal to permit them to convey relations to the World Cup and permission for gamers with kids to spend time with them.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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