Add Megan Rapinoe to the list of those who were outraged by Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales’ kiss on the lips of captain Jennifer Hermoso.
The American women’s soccer star described the incident as a reminder of the “deep level of misogyny and sexism” that Spain’s women’s national team has had to endure.
In a moment caught on video, Rubiales faced harsh backlash for kissing the team’s captain during the medal ceremony after Spain had won its first Women’s World Cup title.
“It made me think about how much we are required to endure,” Rapinoe told The Atlantic in an interview on Tuesday. “Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: Some of the players who stood up way back last year [to protest poor treatment by their coach and federation] still aren’t on the team.
“Maybe that was something that galvanized them, but you shouldn’t have to have that.
“There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man (Rubiales) at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.
“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni [Hermoso, the Spanish midfielder who was kissed by Rubiales] has to be physically assaulted by this guy.”
Rubiales did eventually apologize for his actions in a statement, which included him saying that he kissed Hermoso “without any bad intention or bad faith.”
“I made a mistake, for sure,” Rubiales said earlier this week, according to ESPN. “I have to accept it. In a moment of such emotion, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened, happened, in a very spontaneous way. [There was] no bad faith from either side.
President of the Royal Spanish Football Association
after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup. ZUMAPRESS.com
This came after Rubiales had appeared to defend himself in the aftermath during an interview with Radio MARCA.
“There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a minor show of affection, we can’t heed idiocy,” he said on Aug. 20.
Spain’s acting prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, and minister of culture and sport, Miquel Iceta, denounced Rubiales’ actions.
Rapinoe, who is one of the most recognizable women’s soccer players in the world, announced before the World Cup that she would retire at the conclusion of the United States’ run in the tournament.
The USWNT was knocked out in a 5-4 penalty kick loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Rapinoe, who missed a kick in the shootout, called criticism of the team’s early exit “absurd and outrageous.”
“For a long time, I have thought about missing one in a really big moment. What are you going to do? The only other thing you could do is to not take one. I’m not going to do that. I would rather step up and be in that moment.
“And I think that’s something that made the criticism after that loss particularly fake and disingenuous and absurd and outrageous to me. It’s like, you’re going to bash on me for getting out there and trying my best?”
