From CNN, “Spain’s football federation has threatened to take legal action against one of the country’s star players, Jennifer Hermoso, accusing her of lying about being kissed by federation president Luis Rubiales. during an awards ceremony. The incident was recorded on video.
Players on the Spanish women’s team, along with dozens of others, have responded to the kiss and the response of management with a boycott. They said they will refuse to play for the national team until “the current managers,” including Mr. Rubiales, are gone.
Luis Rubiales, the Royal Spanish Football Federation chief, has insisted he did nothing wrong with regard to the player, Jennifer Hermoso, who said she never consented to his actions but had faced pressure to publicly back Mr. Rubiales. New York Times
Salon reports this quote from Rubiales. “Jenni was the one who lifted me up. I told her to ‘forget about the penalty [that Mary Earps saved]’ and I said to her ‘a little peck?’ and she said ‘OK’.”It was a spontaneous kiss. Mutual, euphoric and consensual. That’s the key. A consensual ‘peck’ is enough to get me out of here?”
Salon notes that, “. . . . Rubiales announced that he would not resign, calling his critics “false feminists” and accusing them of attempting “social assassination.” “Do you think this is so serious that I should go, after the best management in the history of Spanish football?” he said shortly before the Spanish government stepped in and announced an investigation into his actions. “Let me tell you: I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign.”