In a statement, the federation said that it would take the “necessary legal action” and told the female players that “playing for the national team is an obligation on any member of the federation called upon to do so”.
From an outside perspective this whole thing seems to be blown way out of proportion. It’s a dumb mistake, apologize and move on? Why does this need to be world news, require government involvement and cost multiple people’s careers?
I’ve been touched in an inappropriate place when I didn’t want to be more than once. I just said I didn’t appreciate it, the person touching me apologized and that was it. I think it’s absolute insanity to demand someones life to be ruined over something like that. People simply make bad judgement calls sometimes.
“the person touching me apologized”
Important part missing from this puzzle; any acknowledgment or apology from the leader of an organization sexually harassing women he has power over.
Rubiales it’s not a “dumb mistake” kind of guy. It’s an “I’m untouchable and can do whatever I want” kind of guy. This is part of a years long trend.
I mean, he is indicted for several corruption cases, accused of holding orgies paid with federation funds, and being a shady creep. Spanish sports federations and national government have protected him from prosecution, delaying several cases. Let’s see for how much longer.
He also is kind of bad as a federation president, petty, dismissive with some teams, blind to corruption and deals between teams and referees, slow to accept the popularity of women’s football, and many more bad decisions.
It’s not an innocent guy that made an honest mistake, it’s the kind of guy that treats other people like objects and have the power and influence to avoid or delay the consequences of his actions.
He should have resigned years ago, he will not do it. But now he has done something that:
- it’s easy to explain.
- has been seen around the world.
- looks very bad.
So everyone that wanted him out of the federation for whatever reason (this one included) seems to be taking the chance.
As an Spaniard that doesn’t really care about football, but knows the kind of use this guy and others like him are making of their power, influence and taxpayer’s money ABOUT TIME.
Dumb mistake??? How do you mistakenly kiss someone???
Stop justifying sexual assault!
Doing it to people with whom you have no intimate relationship and without asking is exactly how you get sexual assault charges.
It may seem small but since forever women have been subjected to the whims of men and violated. After enduring trauma they experience further damage by either not being believed, defense of the violator, being blamed for what happened to them amongst several others. Consent matters. This man violated her, the federation lied by putting out a false statement from her. It’s become headlines due to it happening publicly on the biggest stage in women’s sports. It’s dangerous to just label a physical violation of consent as a dumb mistake. Then you factor everything that’s taken place since and it’s why it’s reached the level that it has.
I think there was a time when he could have apologized for a dumb mistake and everyone would have moved on. It is world news now because HE chose another and unfortunate path - which probably has no route back to the sunlit lands.
