Unconscious Misogyny?
Luis Rubiales has resigned as Spain’s football chief – just days after prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against him over alleged sexual assault for kissing a female player at the World Cup.
If you are one of -what I think will be a small number – of people who have not seen the video.
The Rubiales’ kiss was on Jenni Hermoso – a long standing player in the Spanish World Cup winning team – she finished second in voting for the distinction of Player of the Tournament – receiving the Silver Ball award.
The kiss, was not only, lull on the lips of Jenni Hermoso, but with both hands holding her face – so that she could not turn away. It drew accusations that he had abused his position and stirred anger about the treatment of women in global football and machismo in Spanish society.
He had – incidentally – been filmed live during the game – stood up at the front of the VIP box, celebrating a Spanish goal -in the machismo pose with his hand holding his crotch.
He had initially reacted to criticism, the week after the World Cup final, with an angry speech in which he said, a number of times – “I will not resign” and declared himself a victim of “false feminism”, words that turned many against him who had been equivocating.
He also claimed that she had consented to the kiss – though – having seen it live myself and heard comments from others who have – in fact,
millions of TV viewers will undoubtedly have seen it live and replayed -– I can’t see, that any conversation took place or was even possible.
Hermoso has since made it clear that, he kissed her against her will.
That speech was followed by a statement from Rubiales’ team threatening legal action against Hermoso!
However, as world-wide, condemnation of his conduct and. I don’t doubt – local pressure, mounted, he has eventually. made another public statement –
He said he had submitted his resignation as President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, a role from which he had already been suspended for 90 days by FIFA, the game’s governing body,
It is worth reading his full statement – it’s obviously from a man who really doesn’t understand, what he has done wrong. and thinks, that he is the victim.
The latest statement –
“After the swift suspension by FIFA, plus the rest of the proceedings against me, it is clear that I will not be able to return to my position.
I was facing, unconscionable persecution. I will defend my honour. I will defend my innocence.”
Hermoso opened the way for prosecutors to file a criminal complaint against him at Spain’s national high court, filing her own complaint over the kiss on September 6. Prosecutors also accused Rubiales of “coercion”, saying that Hermoso says she and her friends and family were “under constant and repeated pressure from Luis Rubiales and his professional entourage to justify” his actions. Rubiales, who says the kiss was consensual, said in the statement: “I have faith in the truth, and I will do everything in my power to make it prevail.” He added: “My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of unconscionable persecution, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the streets, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing.”. In the Sunday statement he said: “Insisting on waiting and clinging on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither for the federation nor for Spanish football. Among other reasons, because there are powers that be that will prevent my return.”
In the last few days –
A judge has banned Luis Rubiales from going within 200m of footballer Jenni Hermoso.
Prosecutors asked for the restraining order as the national court in Madrid considered a criminal complaint of sexual assault and coercion.
Appearing in court for the first time, Mr Rubiales denied sexually assaulting Ms Hermoso by kissing her on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup win.
Ms Hermosa’s lawyer was adamant it was a “non-consensual kiss”.
Investigating judge Francisco de Jorge was asked to bar him from approaching within 500m of Jenni Hermoso or from communicating with her.
He later agreed to the order but placed restrictions at 200m adding that Mr Rubiales should not contact the player during the investigation.
There are repercussions.
A boycott of the national team still has not been resolved, a week ahead of their next game, and 39 players of the woman’s national squad – have signed a letter saying that changes made by the football federation “are not enough for the players to feel in a safe place”.
Outside court, her lawyer Carla Vall said that “Everyone had seen what had happened: “We can say precisely that thanks to [these images], and thanks to social change and changes in the law, we can show that Mr Rubiales had a complete lack of consent.”
She is due to give evidence to the court at a later date.
The judge will decide whether the case goes to trial after examining a series of videos from before, during and after the ceremony.
He has asked to see the moment of the kiss “from all angles”. He will also examine videos of the celebrations in the dressing room and on the team bus as they left the stadium in Sydney.
The events in Sydney continue to rock Spanish football. Earlier this month, women’s team coach Jorge Vilda was fired and replaced by assistant coach Montse Tomé, the first woman to run the team.
However, she had to postpone a press conference on Friday afternoon as 39 players, including 21 members of the World Cup-winning squad signed a letter calling for a series of measures before they returned to the squad.
P. S.
Is there such a thing as’ Unconscious Misogyny’ or is it just bloody ignorance ?