Megan Rapinoe has criticized Luis Rubiales, the head of the Spanish Football Federation, for his behavior after the World Cup final last weekend.
Rubiales was filmed kissing Hermoso during the medal presentation after Spain’s final victory over England (1-0), for which he has since apologized. He was also spotted making a lewd gesture from his seat, and Rapinoe called out his “misogyny”.
The star of the United States Women’s National Team was outraged as evidenced by her remarks provided to the media The Atlantic : “It got me thinking about how much we have to go through. Think of all the Spanish team had to go through: Some of the players who stood up last year (to protest mistreatment by their federation and coach) still don’t make the squad. Maybe that galvanized them, but we shouldn’t have to go through that.
“There is another image that shows a level of misogyny and sexism so deep in this federation and in this man at the final whistle, who grabs his crotch. What upside down world do we live in? On the biggest stage, where we should be celebrating, Jenni was physically assaulted by this guy.”
