What did USWNT star Megan Rapinoe say about RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissing Spain’s Jenni Hermoso?

Recently retired USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, who won the Women’s World Cup on two occasions, has spoken out on the controversy surrounding Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales, who drew huge criticism from all quarters and was forced to apologise after kissing Spain attacker Jenni Hermoso on the lips as La Roja celebrating winning the trophy in Sydney on Sunday.

Rubiales was also filmed grabbing his crotch moments after the full-time whistle.

Speaking to The Atlantic, Rapinoe described Rubiales as being a misogynist and sexist, while she described his actions as a “physical assault”.

“Misogyny and sexism” in Spanish Soccer Federation

“It made me think about how much we are required to endure. Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: Some of the players who stood up way back last year [to protest perceived unacceptable working conditions under coach Jorge Vilda and the federation in general] still aren’t on the team. Maybe that was something that galvanised 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 has to be physically assaulted by this guy”, the OL Reign winger continued.

Spain made history by defeating England to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time, but their achievement has been somewhat overshadowed by the behaviour of Rubiales, who is not thought to be contemplating resigning from his position but has received widespread criticism, including from Spanish president Pedro Sánchez.

Rapinoe was full of praise for Spain joining the winners’ circle and cited the players0 familiarity with one another as one of the reasons for their success: “So many of these players play together all of the time. Most of them play in Spain, most of them play for Barcelona, and they play the same style. So there’s a deep philosophy”.

Rapinoe: “Two games at the same time”

The 38-year-old also lamented the fact that female soccer players still have significant battles to fight off the field, as well as on it: “What I’ve realised for a long time is that we’re playing two games at the same time. One, we’re playing all against each other. And then the other one, we’re all playing together to win equality and progress and what we deserve”.

“We want these other teams to be paid equally, and to have the resources that they deserve, and to not be subjected to misogyny and racism and sexism. If that comes at the expense of our own dominance, yeah, we want that”.