Support is pouring in for Spain forward Jennifer Hermoso after Spanish football president Luis Rubiales refused to resign following his forced kiss on Hermoso during the 2023 World Cup medal ceremony. Additional footage of Rubiales grabbing his crotch while in the box suite alongside Queen Letizia of Spain and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also surfaced, further adding to the controversy.
Rubiales and the federation have released video and announcements falsely attaching Hermoso’s name to apologies. In response, Hermoso’s player union and agency have stated that they will represent her interests and be her spokespeople moving forward. Pressure for action against Rubiales has been increasing since the World Cup final, with calls for his resignation.
An emergency meeting was held by the federation, where it was expected that Rubiales would resign as previous reports had indicated. However, Rubiales refused to step down and declared his intention to remain in office. Multiple Spain national team and domestic club players have reacted and shown support for Hermoso, with over 50 players signing a letter declaring their refusal to play under the current leadership.
Hermoso herself has clarified that she did not consent to the forced kiss and denied lifting Rubiales, stating that the president’s words explaining the incident are false. She released a statement detailing her experiences with Rubiales and the impact his actions have had on the World Cup celebration.
Several players, including Aitana Bonmati, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas, and Mapi Leon, who were part of the group known as “Las 15” and had tried to address issues with the federation, have expressed support for Hermoso. Spain men’s players, including Iker Casillas, David De Gea, Hector Bellarin, and Borja Iglesias, have also shown solidarity with Hermoso and called for Rubiales’ resignation.
Multiple organizations, such as LIGA F and Sevilla FC, have released statements calling for Rubiales to step down. The global reaction to Rubiales’ actions has been vocal, with players from women’s soccer teams outside of Spain expressing their support for Hermoso and calling for change. It is expected that the Spanish government may intervene and urge Rubiales to resign.
