Consensual or Unwanted Kiss? Spanish Football Federation Holds Emergency Meeting

As the controversy continues over the kiss of the President of the Spanish Football Federation on the lips of Jennifer Hermoso, a player of the Spanish women's national football team, the Spanish Football Federation announced that it will hold an emergency meeting on Monday. The controversial kiss occurred after the Spanish women’s victory in the World Cup, and now Luis Rubiales, the president of the federation, is facing a wave of criticism. Rubiales claimed that the kiss was consensual, but Hermoso considered it unwanted. A spokesperson for the Royal Spanish Football Federation said on Sunday that the federation has called regional federations to an 'extraordinary and urgent' meeting to assess the 'situation in which the federation finds itself' following Rubiales' suspension. FIFA, the world football federation, opened a disciplinary case against Rubiales on Thursday and announced on Saturday that he has been suspended from national and international football activities for three months due to ongoing investigations. The 46-year-old Rubiales stated that he will use FIFA's investigation to prove his innocence. During his 12-year professional career, he mostly played in the second division of Spanish teams. He took over the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation in 2018, promising to modernize its structure, increase revenue, and make the federation more transparent. The Spanish government cannot dismiss him, but it has strongly condemned his behavior and stated on Friday that it will use legal proceedings in the sports disciplinary court to suspend him. This uproar has erupted in a country where gender issues have become a prominent topic in recent years, with tens of thousands of women participating in street marches protesting sexual abuse and violence. Yolanda Díaz, Spain's Minister of Labor, is scheduled to meet on Monday with representatives of the 'Futpro' union, an association of professional female footballers that represents Hermoso, as well as the Spanish Footballers' Union. She wants to ensure that football is an area 'that has appropriate conditions and a space free from sexual violence.' María Jesús Montero, head of the Ministry of Finance and Civil Services, said on Sunday that Rubiales should not return to lead Spanish football. She stated, 'Someone who lies shows that they do not understand that the fight for equality in an area as important as sports cannot hold the reins of football in this country.' Hermoso, who has stated that she did not consent to the kiss and feels 'vulnerable and a victim of an assault,' is warmly supported by other players and many in society. She was cheered by the crowd when she was seen on the balcony with prominent figures during the women's Copa del Rey final between Atlético Madrid and Milan on Saturday evening. The players present at the match held a banner that read: 'We are with you, Jennifer Hermoso.' Players from Orlando Pride and San Diego Wave wore armbands in support of Hermoso during their National Women's Soccer League game in Orlando, Florida, on Friday. Swedish players also had supportive messages for her on their armbands on Saturday. All players from the 23 teams in the Copa del Rey, including Hermoso, as well as dozens of other team members, announced on Friday that they would not play in international matches as long as Rubiales remained president of the federation. On Saturday, 11 members of the coaching staff of the Spanish women's team submitted their resignations to the Spanish Football Federation in support of Hermoso and condemnation of Rubiales. The coach of the women's national team expressed regret over Rubiales' 'inappropriate behavior' on Saturday. Feminist groups are set to hold a demonstration in Madrid on Monday titled 'With You, Jenni.' Andrés Iniesta, who won the World Cup and Euro with the Spanish men's team, joined the condemnation of Rubiales as a father of three daughters, a husband, and a football player, telling his approximately three million Instagram followers that Rubiales' behavior was 'damaging the image of our country and football around the world.' Víctor Franco, the president of the National Sports Council of Spain, called this incident a moment for the 'Me Too' movement in Spain. However, he stated on Saturday that this scandal would not harm Spain's efforts to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco. Three-month suspension; FIFA punishes the president of the Spanish Football Federation. The president of the Spanish Football Federation did not back down; I will not resign for a 'consensual kiss.' The cost of the 'forbidden kiss'; the president of the Spanish Football Federation forced to resign. Consequences of the controversial kiss; FIFA opens a disciplinary case against the president of the Spanish Football Federation. The controversial kiss in the Women's World Cup final; the Prime Minister of Spain: An apology is not enough.