The acting Minister for Equality, Irene Montero, has indicated that “in the case of a non-consensual kiss, the Government has the obligation to act” and that, in the Rubiales controversy, “we had the obligation to act forcefully”. “It is very important that Rubiales does not continue in his position, but there are many other non-consensual kisses that continue to go unpunished,” she said in statements to Cadena Ser.
The Higher Sports Council (CSD) confirmed this Saturday that it has filed a complaint against the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, for “abuse of authority” by kissing the player Jenni Hermoso. after the women’s soccer World Cup final and for his lack of “decency” in the box.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) meets again this afternoon as a matter of urgency to draw up its roadmap. The call is from Pedro Rocha, since Saturday its interim president after FIFA’s decision to suspend Luis Rubiales from his position for 90 days for his improper conduct in the Women’s World Cup.
The world champions have announced that they will no longer play for Spain while Rubiales remains, and eleven members of coach Jorge Vilda’s coaching staff resigned over the weekend. On the continuity of this, Montero has not directly requested his dismissal but has stated that “the whole of society is asking for an exemplary response.”
Montero was one of the first voices to call for Rubiales’ resignation last Monday. “The procedures must always continue without putting pressure on Jenni Hermoso,” said the minister.
The second vice president and acting Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, meets this Monday with the president of FUTPro, Amanda Gutiérrez, the soccer player Jenni Hermoso’s union, as well as with representatives of the Association of Spanish Soccer Players (AFE) and a delegation of the Women’s Soccer League.
After the statement from Hermoso and the rest of the world champions in response to Rubiales’ speech on Friday, he assured that the Executive and the institutions will accompany “all women who have experienced non-consensual kisses” or who have suffered “situations of workplace harassment in their work environments” or other forms of “sexual violence of greater or lesser intensity.” “How many times have we not heard that deep down she wanted to, that she did not move away?” minister, stressing that these responses “of re-victimization” and with “silence” are “accomplices of the attacks and leave the victims unprotected.” Rubiales said on Friday that the kiss – “the beak”, in her words – from her had been consented to by her: “She was the one who lifted me into her arms and brought her body closer to me.”
