CNN
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Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda on Saturday criticized the “inappropriate” behavior of suspended soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, whose forced kiss with player Jennifer Hermoso at the World Cup final Cup on Sunday caused a wave of anger in world football.
“I am very sorry that the victory of women’s football in Spain was damaged by the inappropriate behavior of our highest leader, Luis Rubiales, and that he himself recognized,” said Vilda on Saturday in a statement widely shared in the Spanish media.
It was a week ago that the incident – seen by millions of viewers around the world – happened, when Hermoso collected her medal after winning the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales’ repeated refusal to resign – despite facing heavy criticism – has sparked a soccer crisis in Spain, with world governing body FIFA suspending him for 90 days and every player and coach of the women’s team of Spain resigned most, except the head coach Vilda.
Rubiales said the kiss was consensual, and the federation released two statements defending him, one of which has since been removed, threatening legal action against Hermoso and accusing him of spreading “lies.”
Hermoso said that he did not want the kiss and he and the entire World Cup-winning squad refused to play for the national team while Rubiales remained president.
“I don’t like this event,” he wrote in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I felt vulnerable and the victim of a passionate, out-of-place sex act without my consent.”
As the row continued through the weekend, several soccer teams, men’s and women’s, showed their support for Hermoso at their matches – some holding shirts, some wearing wristbands, some stretching flags.
AC Milan and Atletico Madrid players paid tribute to Hermoso at the pre-season Women’s Cup final in Madrid, standing together holding a banner reading “With You Jennifer Hermoso” as the Spanish star looked on game from the stands.
In the US, the Houston Dash displayed a banner reading “Contigo Jenni,” which translates to “With you, Jenni,” and wore white wristbands with the same message written during their game. in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Players from KS Current, Orlando Pride and San Diego Wave – including Alex Morgan – wore matching bracelets.
It’s a visual representation of the global unity that marks women’s soccer this week.
Every member of Spain’s women’s coaching staff, except Vilda, resigned on Saturday, releasing a joint statement saying that Rubiales’ explanation “does not reflect in any way how Jenni feels Hermoso, who openly said that he felt that he was the “victim of aggression.”
The coaches also said they were directed to attend the assembly where Rubiales announced her intention to remain in her position and that “various female members of the coaching staff should sit in the front row” in an effort to provide impression that they supported the embattled president.
Their collective resignations were preceded by 23 members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, including Hermoso, and nearly 50 other professional female soccer players who said they would never play nationally again. team until Rubiales is removed from his position. La Roja’s next game is less than a month away on September 22.
That solidarity also extended to men’s soccer with Cadiz and Sevilla both showing their support for Hermoso in their respective matches on Saturday, while Spanish soccer icon Xavi condemned Rubiales’ behavior.
Cadiz placed a banner that read “Todos Somos Jenni (We are all Jenni)” on the pitch, a photo that was later reposted on X by Spain’s acting second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, who called for Rubiales to resign. .
Meanwhile, Sevilla players wore t-shirts with the hashtag “SeAcabó,” meaning “It’s Over,” a reference to Rubiales’ tenure at the federation.
Barcelona manager Xavi said he “condemns the behavior” of Rubiales and gave his “unconditional support to Jennifer Hermoso and the players” on Saturday, according to Reuters.
“I regret that people are not talking about the historic achievement of winning the World Cup,” he added.