Women’s World Cup: Luis Rubiales reminds us there is still a way to go
In a fantastic setting and in front of 75,784 spectators, Spain lifted the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
There were 32 teams, 64 matches, 164 goals and a final between two very powerful sides that - we believe - will not only transform the soccer scene but also many other areas, giving more opportunities and visibility to women. That is what representation is all about: the power to inspire.
During a month of competition, we not only saw elite soccer, but we also heard other versions of the story. However, a scene during the presentation of the medals to the players of the Spanish national team seemed to bring everything back to square one.
A man kisses a woman without consent. That man is the leading figure in the industry in which she works. “Let’s ignore the idiots and the stupid. It’s two friends celebrating something. If there are fools, let them go on with their nonsense, but let’s ignore them,” he says in an interview. The journalist responds with a joke. They both laugh.
Hours later, the man publishes a video. An official statement. “Without any bad intention, without any bad faith, what happened happened (...) We saw it as something natural, normal, and not at all in bad faith. But outside there seems to have been a commotion. Of course, if there are people who have been hurt by this, I have to apologize. There is no other way,” he said.
Rubiales’ mistake
The man is Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish FA. That it seems to him that what happened is nonsense or something natural only confirms that it was not a slip of the tongue, it is his way of acting.
Of course, it is a pity that “this has tarnished the celebration in some way”. What Rubiales cannot expect is for the world to look the other way. His gestures cannot go unnoticed in an industry that must ensure that all kinds of people feel safe. In an environment of respect.
I take the words posted by journalist Shireen Ahmed on her Twitter account as Spain began its title celebration. “Reminder: women’s soccer is not over. Keep watching. Keep reading. Keep supporting. Keep amplifying the campaigns for justice on and off the pitch.” This is just the beginning but it is clear that there is still a long way to go.