Rubiales’ behavior signals ‘deep misogyny, sexism’ – Rapinoe

United States girls’s nationwide staff ahead Megan Rapinoe stated the kiss that Spain soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales planted on the lips of Women’s World Cup champion Jenni Hermoso marred Spain’s success and signals a “deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man.”

Spain’s victory over England on the Women’s World Cup was overshadowed by the compelled kiss through the medal ceremony following the ultimate. After claiming that those that criticized his kiss have been “idiots and stupid people,” the RFEF president was compelled to apologize on Monday.

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Immediately after Spain’s victory, Rubiales had additionally grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture. That occurred with 16-12 months-outdated Princess Infanta Sofía and Queen Letizia of Spain standing close by.

Rapinoe, who led the USWNT efforts for equal prize cash between the lads’s and girls’s groups, and helped the staff get a brand new collective bargaining settlement, higher advantages and extra equal journey preparations, stated Rubiales’ actions signaled deeper issues in Spain.

“There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man [Rubiales] at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch,” Rapinoe stated in an interview published on Tuesday in The Atlantic.

“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy.

“It made me take into consideration how a lot we’re required to endure,” Rapinoe said. “Think how a lot that Spanish staff needed to shoulder: Some of the gamers who stood up method again final 12 months [to protest treatment by their coach and federation] nonetheless aren’t on the staff.

“Maybe that was something that galvanized them, but you shouldn’t have to have that.”

The Spain squad was in close to-mutiny final 12 months due to some gamers’ complaints concerning the tradition beneath coach Jorge Vilda, demanding higher teaching and preparation to get extra out of the staff.

Rubiales backed Vilda and solely three of the 15 gamers who complained have been included on the World Cup staff. The federation did take some steps towards enhancing the situations of the gamers, which included a monetary package deal to permit them to deliver relations to the World Cup and permission for gamers with youngsters to spend time with them.

The Spanish federation introduced afterward Tuesday that it will maintain an emergency Extraordinary General Assembly on Friday to debate the problem.

“Based on the latest events that took place during the award ceremony of the Women’s World Cup won by the Spanish National Team last Sunday in Sydney, the Federation wishes to inform that the internal proceedings of the Federation regarding Integrity issues are open, as well as the rest of the applicable protocols,” the statement read.

Asked if Rubiales ought to resign, Spain’s appearing prime minister Pedro Sánchez stated on Tuesday that it was not his name to make as a result of the RFEF shouldn’t be managed by the federal government. But Sánchez did say that Rubiales’ behavior was “unacceptable.”

Spain’s equality minister Irene Montero stated it was an act of “sexual assault.” Under a brand new sexual violence legislation, the unsolicited kiss, throughout which Rubiales grabbed Hermoso’s face earlier than giving her a kiss on the mouth, may doubtlessly be pursued as a criminal offense.

“What I’ve realized for a long time is that we’re playing two games at the same time,” Rapinoe stated. “One, we’re playing all against each other. And then the other one, we’re all playing together to win equality and progress and what we deserve.

“We need these different groups to be paid equally, and to have the assets that they deserve, and to not be subjected to misogyny and racism and sexism.

“If that comes at the expense of our own dominance, yeah, we want that. Maybe that’s a novel concept for some people, but it’s not for us.”

The USWNT exited the World Cup after dropping to Sweden within the spherical of 16, its earliest-ever exit from the competitors.

“And I think we’ve understood for a long time that being one of the best teams, and being one of the teams that [has] been invested in the most — [although] not enough — it is our responsibility to continue to push the game forward. And I take a lot of pride in the World Cup being what it is today versus even four years or eight years ago. I take a lot of pride when I see teams speaking up for themselves.”

Spain’s gamers union, which Rubiales used to go, issued a press release on Tuesday calling for Spain’s Higher Council for Sports, which oversees Spanish sports activities, to behave towards Rubiales if he doesn’t step down. The union cited Spain’s sports activities legislation that sanctions acts that “damage the dignity” of somebody or “creates an atmosphere of intimidation” primarily based on undesirable conduct associated to gender or race.

“The incident regarding Jenni Hermoso is especially grave since she finds herself in a situation of vulnerability before a person in a position of power,” the union stated. “A once-in-a-lifetime celebration for the Spanish players has been overshadowed by the improper behavior of the federation president.”

Information from The Associated Press was used on this report.