The Spanish government demanded, this Wednesday, August 23, an investigation “ transparent and urgent to the national football federation, splashed by the forced kiss of its president, Luis Rubiales, on Jenni Hermoso, a player from La Roja, after her victory in the final of the Women’s World Cup. Rubiales’ apologies made on Tuesday did not convince.
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The pressure is still mounting on the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and its president, Luis Rubiales, who is coming under a rain of international criticism after having surprised and kissed the player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in front of the cameras, after the coronation of Spain on Sunday in Sydney.
The Spanish government now demands an investigation “ transparent and urgent to the federation. Victor Francos, Spain’s secretary of state for sports and president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), said the council would take action if the RFEF failed to do so, and could take the matter to the administrative court sports in Spain.
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” I imagine that the competent people will talk to the two parties concerned and make a report he told Cadena Ser radio. ” I personally let the Federation know that this report must be transparent and urgent. Because if it is not, we are obviously obliged to take the corresponding additional measures “he added.
A case escalated to the Prime Minister
On Tuesday evening, the RFEF announced that due to the ” urgency “, she would hold an extraordinary general meeting on Friday devoted to this forced kiss. The case went all the way to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who on Tuesday described the RFEF president’s gesture as ” unacceptable », and his apologies of « insufficient ” And ” inappropriate “, while refraining from calling for the resignation, unlike other ministers.
Several football personalities have also condemned this forced kiss. After a stern statement on Tuesday from the Spanish Footballers’ Association, American striker Megan Rapinoe, the most publicized player in the world, was scathing in an interview with the American monthly The Atlantic Tuesday.
” What upside down world do we live in? On the biggest stage, where we should be celebrating, Jenni must be physically assaulted by this guy “said Rapinoe, denouncing a” deep level of misogyny and sexism “. The number three in the government, the communist Yolanda Diaz, indicated on Wednesday that her party, Sumar, would also seize the CSD.
” I didn’t like it, eh ! “, reacted the Spanish number 10 in the locker room during a live broadcast on Instagram. She later explained, in statements sent to the press by the RFEF, that it was ” a completely spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy that comes from winning the World Cup “.
For his part, before apologizing, Mr. Rubiales, 46, had initially brushed aside these criticisms: “ Let’s not listen to idiots and stupid people, really », originally governed Rubiales after the rain of criticism. “It’s just two friends celebrating. We’re not here for nonsense. Me, with all that I’ve been through, no more nonsense and no more assholes “, he continued.
(With AFP)