What will happen in the Luis Rubiales case? – 01/09/2023 – Marina Izidro

When your own mother has to defend you from something wrong you did at work, it’s a sign that your reputation is not good.

Ángeles Béjar, mother of the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, locked herself in a church and went on a hunger strike for the “inhuman and bloody hunting” of her little son. The mother’s idea was to stay there “indefinitely”. Two days later, Father Antonio said that she was in the hospital because she felt bad. Dona Ángeles is doing well. I recommend the text “Mothers raise macho sons” by Folha’s colleague and always great Mariliz Pereira Jorge.

There are many developments in the Rubiales case. Here’s a summary from the final of the Women’s World Cup, on August 20, when Spain won the first title in its history.

After celebrating his victory over England by grabbing his genitals, alongside Queen Letizia and her daughter, Rubiales descended from the podium to present the awards. In front of 75,000 people at the stadium in Sydney and millions watching on TV, he thought it was okay to hug female players effusively and forcefully kiss one of them on the mouth, Jenni Hermoso. The athlete said she didn’t like it, he apologized lamely, FIFA began to investigate. Calls poured in for him to resign from sports organizations to political parties. politicians, from left to conservative. At the federation, Rubiales repeated to supporters that he would not step down, applauded by coaches of the women’s national teams, Jorge Vilda, and men’s, Luis de la Fuente.

The prime minister said apologies were not enough and the government is pressing for his removal from office.

Contrary to what Rubiales claimed, Hermoso stated that the kiss was not consensual (as if the victim needed to explain himself). at 23 champions, 81 athletes in total, announced that they will not defend the selection with the top hat in charge. Members of the technical commission made the positions available. FIFA suspended Rubiales for 90 days, Vilda and de La Fuente switched sides, perhaps seeing they were supporting the wrong person. There were protests, Mom stopped eating, the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether there is a crime of sexual assault. Sarina Wiegman, coach of the England national team and elected best of the year by Uefa in women, dedicated the award to the Spanish.

Two weeks later, Rubiales is still clinging on to the job, to no one’s surprise.

It seems a matter of time.

Image is everything. Spain wants to be one of the hosts of the 2030 men’s World Cup. But the case went beyond the sports sphere. In the European country, similar to Brazil in terms of machismo, there is a vision of opportunity for change in society.

Sad to see that athletes had already warned, when 15 of them refused to play in protest to the management of the RFEF and Vilda. They needed to win and have the moment of their lives tarnished for the problem to be wide open to the world. And there was a lack of player engagement. Xavi, Iniesta and Casillas have positioned themselves, but you can count on your fingers who has spoken out. Athletes have power showing other men that it wasn’t an isolated thing and that the problem is systemic.

I don’t know Hermoso, but to those who doubt her, I say as a woman that harassment is something that happens quickly. We don’t expect it, the reaction can be one of amazement and shock or doubting our judgment. With a cool head, we assimilate what happened.

Spain sees its reputation shaken and is overwhelmingly against Rubiales. It is a key moment of advancement for Spanish society, as long as this is not just a women’s struggle.

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