Sexual Harassment

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In September 2022, 15 players of Spain Woman's Soccer Team sent the federation separate but identical emails asking not to be called up to the national team, citing a lack of professionalism that each player wrote had an "important effect on my emotional state and by extension my health." They demanded "a clear commitment to a professional project with attention paid to all the aspects needed to get the best performance of this group of players" in the email.

The 15 players were Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Ona Batlle, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, Sandra Panos, Claudia Pina, Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizagirre, Amaiur Sarriegi, Lucia Garcia, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri and Andrea Pereira. Three additional players who did not send emails voiced their support for the others: Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso, and captain Irene Paredes.

Among the players' complaints was insufficient preparation for matches, from arriving to host cities too late and traveling by bus when planes would be considered the practical choice. The players also reportedly had issues with several coaches, alleging they were asked them to keep their hotel room doors open until midnight and inspected their bags after they went on excursions during camps. The players never explicitly asked for head coach Jorge Vilda or his coaching staff to be fired, but it was clear the relationship between them was fractured.

Instead of taking the players' complaints seriously, though, the federation instantly backed Vilda and criticized those who protested. Ana Alvarez, head of women's soccer at the federation, said that players would need to apologize before they were welcomed back onto the team, and added that "the federation comes first."

Things started to change in the winter. Hermoso returned to the team in February and then talks between the players and Alvarez began in March. Paredes then rejoined the team in March, and Putellas returned soon after recovering from an ACL tear in April.

A handful of players felt optimistic about the progress in discussion with the federation, which included hiring more support staff and improved travel conditions plus more freedom during camp. Eight of the 15 players who sent emails in September, as a result, made themselves available for selection on the World Cup team. Three eventually made the cut -- Bonmati, Caldentey, and Batlle.

The argument that the Spanish federation's lack of professionalism, though, was bolstered in Sydney after president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed Hermoso as the players received their winners' medals. Rubiales initially described criticism of his actions as "idiocy [that] should be ignored," but apologized the following day. He then faced increasing calls to resign and criticism from politicians and soccer players alike, including Megan Rapinoe.

Rubiales and his allies have also reportedly tried to save face and failed since the incident. The federation issued a statement on Hermoso's behalf that described the incident as a "mutual gesture," but she was not involved with the creation of the statement. Rubiales also reportedly pleaded with her to be in the apology video, while Vilda reached out to her family on three occasions on Rubiales' behalf.

Hermoso has only briefly spoken publicly about the incident, expressing her discomfort in a post-match Instagram live from the locker room: "Eh...yeah, I did not enjoy that."

It seemed as if all of the pressure was going to force the Spain boss to finally quit. The federation called an emergency meeting, and it was widely reported that Rubiales would resign at that meeting. Instead, in a fiery speech, he took to the podium and not only refused to step aside, but offered Vilda a new four-year contract.

Painting himself as the victim of a witch hunt, Rubiales decried "false feminism" and described the moment between him and Hermoso as "spontaneous, mutual and consensual," adding it was "like one he would give to one of his daughters."

It's now up to the Spanish government to step in if Rubiales is to be removed from running the program.

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[paserbyp]

Just yesterday, Hermoso has accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for kissing her on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final, the country’s prosecutors’ office said Wednesday, September 6.

Rubiales has insisted the kiss was consensual. Hermoso has denied that in statements issued by her and her players’ union. She also said she and her family were pressured by the federation to show her support for Rubiales in the immediate aftermath of the scandal caused by the kiss that tarnished her team’s victory.

The prosecutors’ office in Madrid said that, according to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty. The new law eliminated the difference between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning any unconsented sexual act.