The Spanish Football Federation has declared its intention to take legal action against Jennifer Hermoso and others in response to comments made concerning an incident where the Federation's President, Luis Rubiales, kissed Hermoso on the lips during a medal ceremony in Sydney, Australia.
The incident occurred after Hermoso and her team won the World Cup on August 20, 2023. Hermoso, a 33-year-old World Cup winner, later expressed her discomfort with the kiss, stating that she neither liked nor expected it.
Despite facing a week of intense criticism, the 46-year-old President of the Spanish FA has refused to step down from his position. During the Federation's Extraordinary General Assembly on Friday, he vehemently asserted his intention to "fight to the end."
In a speech marked by defiance, Rubiales described the kiss as "mutual" and criticized what he termed "unjust" campaigns and "fake feminism." He emphatically declared, "I will not resign," multiple times during his nearly 30-minute address, further fueling the controversy.
Jennifer Hermoso responded to Rubiales' comments on August 25, asserting that she did not consent to the "unwanted" kiss. She also revealed that she resisted the pressure to issue a statement justifying Rubiales' actions, stating:
"In reference to what has happened today [Rubiales’ speech] and while I don’t want to interfere with the multiple ongoing legal procedures, I feel obligated to say that the words of Mr. Luis Rubiales explaining the unfortunate event are categorically false and part of the manipulative culture he has created."
Hermoso went on to clarify that no conversation occurred as Rubiales described, and the kiss was not consensual. She expressed how the situation left her in shock due to the context of the celebration, and she felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression.
Despite pressure to issue a statement justifying Rubiales' actions, she maintained her stance. She emphasized the need to denounce such unconsensual behavior and stated her refusal to support someone who didn't respect her.
Hermoso's sentiments were echoed by her teammates and other professional women football players, who announced that they would not represent the national team as long as Rubiales remained in his position.
In response to these statements, the Spanish FA pledged to demonstrate that Hermoso and the other players were lying about the incident and asserted that players have an "obligation" to play for the national team if selected. They also vowed to pursue legal action in the matter:
"The RFEF and Mr. President will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself. The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions."
