Cadiz and Sevilla Express Solidarity for Spain Women’s World Cup Champion After Controversial Kiss
The aftermath of a controversial kiss between Rubiales, the now-suspended president of the Spanish national federation, and Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s Women’s World Cup champion, continues to reverberate throughout the country. Players from Cadiz and Sevilla made a strong statement of support for Hermoso at their respective home games on Saturday, displaying their solidarity with the player amid the ongoing uproar caused by the incident.
During the World Cup final awards ceremony in Sydney last weekend, Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips, sparking outrage and dividing opinions. In response, Cadiz’s players made history by holding up a banner before their Spanish league match against Almeria that read, We Are All With Jenni, becoming the first men’s team to publicly express support for Hermoso. Luis Hernández, a Cadiz player, explained that the club wanted to send a unifying message for men’s and women’s soccer, and their action certainly achieved that goal.
Sevilla players, on the other hand, took a different approach to show their solidarity. Ahead of their match against Girona, they wore t-shirts with the powerful message, This is over, echoing the sentiment against Rubiales that was initially started by Hermoso’s teammate and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on social media. The supporters in attendance also joined their voices to the cause, chanting This is over as a sign of protest.
The impact of the controversial incident has extended beyond the world of soccer, as the Spanish government, players’ unions, and several clubs and players themselves have put immense pressure on Rubiales to step down from his position. Responding to these mounting demands, FIFA temporarily suspended Rubiales, a decision that came a day after he declared that he would not resign. This move reflects the seriousness of the situation and highlights the significant backlash faced by Rubiales.
Sevilla was one of the first clubs to openly state that Rubiales should no longer hold the position of president, a sentiment shared by Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna, Valencia, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, and Espanyol. The government has taken steps as well, requesting a court to declare Rubiales unfit for his office. The case against him centers on his defense of his actions, claiming the kiss was consensual, a statement that Hermoso vehemently denies as she felt assaulted.
Despite the controversial backdrop, football games continued, and Sevilla faced Girona in a match that ended in a 2-1 victory for the opposing team. Aleix GarcÃa scored the winning goal in the 56th minute, handing Sevilla their fourth consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, Cadiz drew 1-1 with Almeria after Kaiky, the Almeria defender, found the net in stoppage time.
Overall, the solidarity displayed by Cadiz and Sevilla sends a powerful message of support for Jenni Hermoso, as well as a clear rejection of Rubiales’ actions and his continued presence in Spanish soccer leadership. The calls for change have been strong and widespread, with notable clubs and the government advocating for Rubiales’ departure. It remains to be seen how this controversy will ultimately be resolved.
