Lionesses blast ‘sexist and patriarchal’ Spanish Football Federation
England’s Lionesses have blasted the “sexist and patriarchal” Spanish Football Federation, in a strongly-worded assertion backing Spain footballer Jenni Hermoso and “all players of the Spanish team”.
It comes after Hermoso accused the organisation of getting a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture” because the World Cup-winning squad refused to play whereas president Luis Rubiales stays in submit. A complete of 81 gamers signed a letter stating they won’t settle for nationwide workforce call-ups whereas Rubiales refuses to resign after kissing Hermoso – who has pressured she didn’t consent – following the nation’s Women’s World Cup remaining win over England.
He claimed it was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual” however Hermoso, who beforehand recommended feedback enjoying down the incident attributed to her by the federation had been false, hit again with an assault on the organisation as a complete.
Now England’s Lionesses – who misplaced 1-0 to Spain within the World Cup Final – have issued a joint assertion. Shared on social media by numerous England gamers, it learn: “Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.
“Abuse is abuse and now we have all seen the reality. The behaviour of those that suppose they’re invincible should not be tolerated and other people should not want convincing to take motion towards any type of harassment.
“We all stand with you Jenn i Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team. The Lionesses.”
In an earlier assertion, Hermoso stated: “I’ve to state that I’ve been below steady stress to provide you with an announcement that might justify the act of Mr. Luis Rubiales,” she stated in an announcement on Twitter. Not solely that, however in numerous methods and thru totally different folks, the RFEF has pressured these round me (household, associates, colleagues, and many others.) to provide testimony that had little or nothing to do with my emotions.
“It is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices, but I am sure that as the world champion national team we do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile and controlling culture. This type of incident joins a long list of situations that we players have been denouncing in recent years, so this event, in which I have been involved, is just the straw that breaks the camel’s back and what everyone has been able to see.
“But attitudes like this have been part of the day-to-day life of our team for years. For all these reasons, I want to reinforce the position I took from the beginning, considering that I do not have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, without respecting me, at a historic moment for me and for women’s sport.”
Hermoso stated the incident had made her really feel “vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part”, including: “I have ZERO TOLERANCE for these behaviours.”
The Spanish authorities will push for the suspension of Rubiales however the gamers – together with all members of the victorious squad – have taken issues into their very own fingers by successfully occurring strike whereas he stays in place.
A joint assertion launched by gamers’ union Futpro stated they “want to express their firm and resounding condemnation of behaviours that have violated the dignity of women”.
“After everything that happened during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony, we want to state that all the players who sign this letter will not return to a call for the national team if the current leaders continue,” it learn.
Spain’s subsequent scheduled fixture is on September 22 towards Sweden. On Thursday FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings towards Rubiales, who additionally grabbed his crotch in celebration regardless of being simply metres away from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter within the stadium VIP space.
Rubiales apologised for his behaviour within the VIP space however insisted in his speech on Friday he had been the goal of a “social assassination” and repeatedly and emphatically acknowledged “I will not resign”, phrases that drew applause from the gathered delegates at a rare common meeting of the Spanish federation.
World gamers’ union FIFPRO stated it had written to UEFA urging it to open disciplinary proceedings. “Any lack of action by authorities in addressing the conduct of Mr Rubiales would send an entirely unacceptable and damaging message to the football industry and wider society,” it stated in an announcement.
European soccer’s governing physique has but to subject any touch upon the Rubiales case. The gamers, nevertheless, have escalated issues themselves.
“From our union we want to emphasize that no woman should feel the need to respond to the forceful images that everyone has seen and of course, they should not be involved in non-consensual attitudes,” they added of their assertion.
“The players of the Spanish Soccer Team, current world champions, expect forceful answers from the public powers so that actions such as those contained do not go unpunished. We want to end this statement by asking for real structural changes that help the national team to continue growing, in order to transfer this great success to later generations.
“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is managing to tarnish the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.”