Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday believed Spain’s players had “taught a lesson to the world” by going on strike for the president of the football federation, who refused to resign over the forced kiss case.
“Our players have won twice: once on the field and once he taught the world a lesson, a lesson in equality between men and women,” the socialist leader said during a speech in Malaga, quoted by the French agency AFP .
Sánchez welcomed the decision of the 23 world champions to stop wearing the jersey of the national team if the football federation remains in charge.
Shortly after Spain won the world title in Australia on August 20, President Luis Rubiales of the Spanish Football Association gave player Jenni Hermoso a surprising kiss on the lips.
The player later stated that she had not consented to the kiss, contrary to what Rubiales said.
Rubiales’ stance provoked international outrage, but the leader refused to resign “over a little consensual kiss” and denounced a lawsuit provoked by what he described as “false feminism”.
The announcement, made on August 25, was welcomed by almost the entire General Assembly of the Spanish Football Federation, including the coaches of the men’s and women’s teams.
That same night, the 23 world champions announced that they would refuse to be called up to the national team until a change in federation direction occurred.
FIFA, which unites national football federations around the world, has opened a disciplinary investigation against Rubiales and suspended him for 90 days pending proceedings.
“Spain is a feminist country,” said the outgoing prime minister in Malaga.
Sánchez also believed that the case did not damage the external image of Spain, which was a candidate to host the 2030 Men’s World Cup, along with Portugal and Morocco.
On Friday evening, Luis Rubiales, who had been silent since the speech a week ago, emphasized in a statement to the newspaper El Mundo that the kiss was consensual.
Rubiales also condemned what he described as “an unprecedented political and media lynching” on a national and global level.
Source: DN
