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Friday November 15, 2024

Spanish PM terms women player's strike 'lesson to world' after Luis Rubiales misconduct

Luis Rubiales has been suspended by world governing body FIFA for 90 days while it decides on disciplinary measures

By Web Desk
September 03, 2023
Spains acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) holds the Spain womens national football teams jersey as he poses with midfielder Jenni Hermoso (TOP L) and teammates after their 2023 World Cup victory in Sydney, at La Moncloa Palace in Madrid on August 22, 2023. — AFP
Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) holds the Spain women's national football team's jersey as he poses with midfielder Jenni Hermoso (TOP L) and teammates after their 2023 World Cup victory in Sydney, at La Moncloa Palace in Madrid on August 22, 2023. — AFP

Days after the country's women players went on to launch a protest over the unconsented misconduct with a Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso by federation chief Luis Rubiales, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lauded the female mass strike Saturday terming it as "giving the world a lesson".

Sanchez said: "Our players have won twice: first on the pitch, and now in giving a lesson to the world, a lesson of equality between men and women."

Jenni Hermoso also participated in the mass strike of women players last week in which she said she did not consent to be kissed by suspended Luis Rubiales that occurred after the triumph of Spain in the Women's World Cup final.

Sanchez, speaking in Malaga, applauded the players' stance.

Last week in a statement released by the 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).

The 46-year-old Rubiales defied expectations and refused to resign, provoking widespread indignation.

Spain was a feminist country, with women who had decided "to no longer submit, PM Sanchez said adding that "never again". It's over" in reference to the slogan chanted in demonstrations in support of Hermoso.

On Friday, Spain's sports court agreed to investigate Rubiales for the forced kiss as the scandal-hit football chief insisted he would defend himself to "prove the truth".

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the suspended president of the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales, called by feminist groups and student associations in Madrid on September 1, 2023. — AFP
Demonstrators take part in a protest against the suspended president of the Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales, called by feminist groups and student associations in Madrid on September 1, 2023. — AFP

The government lodged a complaint against Rubiales through the state-run National Sports Council (CSD) a week ago, accusing him of "very serious" offences.

In agreeing to take the case, the Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) said it considered the behaviour in question "serious", falling short of the government´s characterisation of Rubiales' actions.

Rubiales has been suspended by the world governing body FIFA for 90 days while it decides on disciplinary measures.

Meanwhile, Veronica Boquete, a former national team skipper told AFP-TV in an interview Saturday that the scandal was "the straw that broke the camel's back".

"It means that when there are no cameras, when there is no one else when it's not the final of a World Cup, a lot of other things happen, which we normalise and let pass when that shouldn't be the case," said the Boquete.

President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales (C) reacts at the end of the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Womens World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023. — AFP
President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales (C) reacts at the end of the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023. — AFP

The 36-year-old, who plays in Italy with Fiorentina, was axed as skipper in 2017.

She hit out at the management of coach Jorge Vilda who took Spain to the World Cup title last month despite tensions between him and his players.

"In the national team, if you complained and wanted to improve things, whoever was in charge didn´t listen to you and very often, you paid the consequences, which were exclusion from the national team," claimed Boquete.

"So, it also caused fear of the consequences."

The 56-time capped player added: "Almost always, in the world of football, the people who are there are men, and they always have a fairly macho mentality. So it's a constant war.

"We need people who work for us (women) and who want to do it, and not because it's an obligation."