LAST UPDATE | 25 Aug 2023

SPANISH MIDFIELDER JENNI Hermoso joined a mass strike of women players on Friday after saying she did not consent to being kissed by the country’s football federation chief Luis Rubiales after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final.

In a statement released by women players’ union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up “if the current leadership continues” at the Spanish football federation (Rfef).

Rubiales, 46, defied expectations and refused to resign at an emergency Rfef meeting earlier Friday.

The chief said in a fiery speech that his kiss on Hermoso’s lips during the World Cup final medal ceremony on Sunday was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” and she had said “OK” when he asked her if he could give her “a peck”.

He also asserted that “she was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body”.

However Hermoso hit back strongly against his claims later Friday.

“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president,” Hermoso said in the Futpro statement.

I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less that they invent words that I did not say.”

Futpro said in the statement that every player signing it, which included the 23 World Cup winners, were taking a stand to force change.

“We want to finish this statement asking for real structural changes, that help the national team to keep growing, to be able to transfer this great success to later generations,” it read.

“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is succeeding in tarnishing the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.

“After all that happened during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup, we wish to declare that all the players signing this document will not return to a national team squad if the current leadership continues.”

Before the World Cup 15 players had taken a similar stance against the federation and coach Jorge Vilda, but many relented and three were part of the team’s triumph in Australia and New Zealand.

Many players, including double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, had written messages of support for Hermoso on social media, some including the phrase “it’s over” — potentially referring to Rubiales’ leadership of Spanish football.

Now Putellas, Hermoso, player of the tournament Aitana Bonmati and many other players say they will not play for Spain again until Rubiales and potentially others leave their posts.

Rubiales had said he was planning on renewing controversial coach Vilda’s contract and hiking his salary, during his speech.

The Spanish government have started a process which may allow them to suspend Rubiales from his post, while Fifa have opened a disciplinary investigation into his behaviour at the final.

“I will not resign, I will not resign, I will not resign,” shouted Rubiales at the Rfef meeting.

“A consensual ‘peck’ is enough to get me out of here? I will fight until the end,” he added.

Rubiales said the pressure he has received this week was an attempt “to publicly assassinate me”.

His words were applauded at the meeting by controversial Spain’s women’s coach Jorge Vilda.

Rubiales railed against “false feminism” and said he had been “hunted” since taking the job in May 2018.

The Rfef chief insisted his kiss could not be compared to sexual assault.

“For god’s sake, what will women think who have really been sexually assaulted?” said Rubiales.

Before the vast majority of Spain’s most talented players decided to strike, politicians and other figures criticised Rubiales.

“What we have seen today at the federation assembly is unacceptable,” wrote second deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz on social network X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The government must act and take urgent measures: impunity for macho actions is over. Rubiales cannot continue in office.”

A source at Madrid’s prosecutor’s office told AFP a complaint of “an alleged crime of sexual assault” made by the country’s football coaching school president Miguel Galan had been sent to Spain’s National Court.

The country’s High Council of Sport (CSD) said it would take action against Rubiales.

It promised to submit complaints it had received about the incident to the Spanish Sports Court (TAD).

“I think that this could be the ‘Me Too’ of Spanish football,” CSD president Victor Francos told a news conference, explaining he would be able to suspend Rubiales if TAD decides to initiate proceedings against him next week.

Rubiales did apologise for grabbing his crotch during the celebrations of the 1-0 win against England in the final while standing next to Spain’s Queen Letizia.

– © AFP 2023