Mere moments after Spain’s women’s national football team won their first Women’s World Cup in a historic win against England, the country’s success was soiled by the disrespectful, invasive, and remarkably inappropriate actions of former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales. 

Following the team’s win, the players lined up by the podium to receive their medals, as well as congratulations from an impressive assortment of influential figures, both in the world of politics and in the world of soccer. The medal ceremony began, and one by one the players were honored with medals and congratulations from those assembled. FIFA president Gianni Infantino handed the players their medals, and they received hugs from Spanish Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia. Rubiales also embraced many players, even lifting some into the air. However, the issue did not arise until star Spanish forward, Jennifer Hermoso, crossed the podium.

The beginning of Hermoso and Rubiales’ interaction was not broadcast. Once the footage cuts away from a shot of a player kissing the team’s newly acquired trophy, we see Rubiales and Hermoso embrace, with Rubiales’ hands around Hermoso’s shoulders and hers around his back. The pair stay intertwined, swaying back and forth for a second as Rubiales appears to whisper something in Hermoso’s ear. 

Rubiales then puts his hands on the back of Hermoso’s head, before proceeding to kiss her on the lips and slap her on the back twice before she continues down the procession. Since then, Hermoso has made a statement stating that at no point did she consent to the kiss. 

“I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso said on social media. “Simply put I was not respected.”

Rubiales released a statement the following day affirming the contrary, stating that he made a mistake, but that the kiss was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric” and done “with consent.” In a speech the Friday after, he added that he would not resign and said he would “fight to the end.” However, after weeks of refusing to step aside amidst intense deliberation, disputes, and impassioned calls for Rubiales to be held accountable for his actions, he has resigned, following what he called “an excessive persecution, as well as many falsehoods.”

Prior to Rubiales’s eventual decision to resign, FIFA placed him under investigation and suspended him for 90 days. His initial refusal to step aside prompted a protest from the players and multiple resignations from the coaching staff. Hermoso, along with her teammates and other professional women’s soccer players, said Friday they would not play again for the country until Rubiales has been removed from his position.

“It fills us with sadness that an act, so unacceptable as this, is managing to tarnish the biggest sporting achievement in Spanish women’s football history,” a statement posted to the players union site FUTPRO reads. 

The fact of the matter is that Hermoso maintains she did not consent to being kissed. Rubiales’s actions were an egregious abuse of power that made her feel unsafe, uncomfortable, and deeply vulnerable on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

What was a massive and historical achievement for Spanish women’s soccer has now been tainted by the sexual harassment of one of their star players. Moreover, an achievement that should have solely centered on the women who worked so incredibly hard to get it is now largely focused on the actions of a man, further minimizing and distracting from their work and achievements. 

While Rubiales’s decision to resign is ultimately a win for the women affected by his actions, his response and the response of his supporters show that there has not been a full acknowledgment of what was truly wrong. 

Rubiales has described the criticism of his actions and calls for his resignation as a “witch-hunt”, and “fake feminism” despite the initial support from the RFEF, with their comments about the incident stating: “The evidence is conclusive. The President has not lied.” 

Hermoso has described threats of legal action from the RFEF and says that she has experienced coercion to release a statement that would excuse Rubiales’s behavior and alleviate some of the pressure that he was facing. Rubiales’s actions, and the responses to them, have raised concerns about the culture of toxic masculinity within Spanish soccer, and the gender inequality within the sport generally. While Spain has and continues to make progress on the gender disparities faced by many women in the country, there is still an overall patriarchal view held by society that is ultimately critical of women’s rights. Rubuiales’ conduct, and the response to it, indicate that despite the strides Spain has made, there is still an underlying current of misogyny and “machismo” present in Spanish soccer culture.

The controversy over the kiss has also led to increased scrutiny about past instances of sexual harassment, and well as prompted many to reexamine Rubiales’s and the RFEF’s past actions and controversies. For instance, in September 2022, 15 players opted not to play for the women’s national team due to concerns about the culture perpetuated by head coach Jorge Vilda, whom many claimed overworked players. Vilda was also under scrutiny for appearing to touch a staff member’s breast during the World Cup game. Vilda was fired shortly after Rubiales’s suspension, but was still thanked by the RFEF for “the remarkable growth of women’s football.” Ignacio Quereda, the past manager of the women’s team was also criticized for allegations of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, abuse, and sexual coercion. He was ultimately fired following multiple complaints from team members. Rubiales himself has faced accusations of unprofessionalism in the past, including a court case in which he was accused of physically assaulting a woman working in his home. He won that case by using a very similar rhetoric, claiming that he was the victim in the situation.

The shocking lack of concern for how Rubiales and many other men have treated the women’s team is frankly appalling and truly goes to show that there is a culture of misogyny that is dangerous for the women playing. While there shouldn’t be measures in place for this behavior, as it shouldn’t be happening in the first place, there is an undeniable pattern of behavior from men that has repeatedly made women feel unsafe and disrespected. Because of this, the lack of protocols and consequences are shocking and neglectful. 

These women deserve to both pursue their passions and feel safe while doing so. There is a place for women in soccer, and sports in general, and there are so many talented, dedicated, and incredibly strong women who deserve to reap the success of their years of training and commitment. But if this culture of toxicity and machismo persists, then these undoubtedly deserving women will be deterred from following their dreams, which is a massive hit to soccer, and athletics in general. 

Going forward, both various institutions and the players union have vowed to continue working to make soccer a place where everyone feels safe and respected. 

“The union is working so that acts like the ones we have seen never go unpunished, are sanctioned and the pertinent measures are adopted to protect the football players from actions that we believe are unacceptable,” the union said. “It is necessary to continue advancing in the fight for equality, a fight that our players have led with determination, taking us to the position in which we find ourselves today.” 

While Rubiales still denies all accusations against him, as of September 15, Spain’s High Court has imposed a restraining order against Rubiales to prevent him from approaching Hermoso as he’s investigated in court on charges of sexual assault. The order prevents Rubiales from contacting or coming within 200 meters of Hermoso. The investigation could take several months, and if the case goes to trial, Rubiales could face one to four years in jail. 

 While prison systems are hardly the most effective or humane forms of punishment, it’s imperative that Rubiales face some sort of consequences for his actions. If he is acquitted, then that sends the message that what happened to Hermoso doesn’t matter and continues to further toxic masculinity and prove that women’s voices are not valued. Rubiales’s behavior was unacceptable and has already had an undeniable effect on not only Hermoso but female soccer players in general. The first step in righting his wrongs is to ensure that his crimes do not go unpunished.