“Sexism” persists in sport, the UN said this Monday, calling on Spanish authorities to respond to the Spanish Football Federation president’s forced kiss on player Jenny Hermoso with “respect for the rights of all female athletes.”
“How hard is it not to kiss someone on the lips?!” asked Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), when asked about Luis Rubiales’ forced kiss that sparked outrage.
In his daily “briefing” to the press at the UN Headquarters in New York, Stephane Dujarric was categorical in front of the case: “There is a serious problem of sexism that persists in sport and we hope that the Spanish authorities and the government of Spain will deal with [este caso] in a manner that respects the rights of all female athletes.”
Spanish Justice announced this Monday the opening of a preliminary investigation into “sexual abuse” after the forced kiss of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, with world champion Jenny Hermoso.
According to Fiscalía, “investigative measures” are open and the possibility of Hermoso’s sexual assault complaint is open, given that the kiss on the lips when they handed out medals for winning the Women’s World Cup in Australia “did not receive consent.”
However, Rubiales was suspended by FIFA in the latest “domino” fallout from the 20 August event, when at the end of a game dedicated to the Spanish Women’s World Cup in Sydney, during the award celebrations, Luis Rubiales kissed Jenny Hermoso on the lips.
Much criticism followed, with the player stating that he did not consent to the kiss, after the first version stated that it all happened in a moment of greater euphoria.
After several days of intense criticism from various sectors of society, the RFEF held an extraordinary general assembly on Friday, at which Rubiales was supposed to resign, but who, however, repeatedly guaranteed that he would not resign.
A new peak of struggle and extreme positions followed: the national team players said that they were not ready to return and represent Spain, while the current RFEF leaders remain in their posts.
Rubiales was suspended for 90 days by FIFA on Saturday, and 11 members of coach Jorge Vila’s technical team submitted their resignations. For its part, the technician denounced the “improper behavior” of the President of the RFEF, and the Spanish government filed a complaint with the Administrative Court for Sports (TAD).
If the court finds the violations “very serious”, then the Supreme Sports Council will convene an executive committee to initiate the removal of Rubiales.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.