I think the situation in Spain with Luis Rubiales is hard to explain to an international audience because this is something historical and cultural in our country. In the 1970s women couldn’t do sport and that was the mentality we had in this country. From then until now, has a lot changed? Yes, but not as much as it should have because there is still a lot of people who have a sexist mindset.
Within sport, specifically football in this case, there are still a lot of sexist people. Most of the leaders within Spanish football are men – and they are men from a certain generation with defined mindsets. So, what people outside Spain need to understand is that this problem goes much deeper. We are talking about a football federation but could be talking about any other federation or any other company for that matter.
What happened with Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso has had so much media attention because it’s around football, around a World Cup final and with an indisputable action. It has gone global because of how it happened, the moment it happened and the importance it has had. But if this hadn’t happened, if Rubiales hadn’t kissed Hermoso? We would be talking about how Rubiales is the best football federation president in the world, that Jorge Vilda is the best manager in Europe and the world, and everything would continue as normal. We have hit a threshold and are at war to get change.
How did Spain win the World Cup under these circumstances? In Spain we’ve always had talent. That talent couldn’t shine before, but now it does because clubs are more professional, the players are more professional, conditions were improved and that at least allows you to compete evenly. Before we couldn’t and now we can.
We have a generation of fantastic footballers in Spain. It is not only those 23 players who were at the World Cup but also those who stayed home and others who have never been called up. In the past few years, proper infrastructure has been facilitated and the players arrived at the World Cup able to compete. All those talents that are being formed at clubs across Spain are at an elite level, independently of who is the manager of the national team. Imagine if things had been done correctly and if we had had adequate leaders a long time ago, then we would have been world champions 10 or 15 years earlier.
The problem is not the steps that need to be taken, it’s the ones that are going to be taken. I would like to see things done in a certain way, but I don’t know whether it’s possible or if whoever has the power will do them. But the message from Spanish society is clear. Now it’s the turn of the government, politicians, and corresponding organisations to act. It’s external people that must decide what will happen now and how will we change this.
The footballers and Spanish society have already said what the problem is, we have all seen it and there are no more secrets. People who are in certain positions cannot say: “I didn’t know about it.” Now everyone knows about it. The situation depends on those people who are there to work on doing things the right way. Are they going to remove Rubiales and put someone elsesimilar in? Or will they do a structural reform, which is what should be done.
The problem is not if Rubiales leaves or is fired – it is deeper than that. It’s something that we’ve been living and suffering for a long time. It was already the case when I played and it’s still the case with Rubiales, but it’s also all the people who work at the federation.
We saw it in the 30 minutes he spoke last week, where most people were applauding, smiling and positioning themselves in his favour. I think what we all witnessed publicly is what some of us have seen and said privately throughout many years – well, since for ever really.
When Rubiales spoke in that press conference and said what he did, it seemed surreal. It was embarrassing and shameful. In that moment he allowed the frustration and deception to turn into anger. That is where all the reactions are coming from and that’s when we said, “that’s it, it’s over.”
Veró Boquete won 62 caps for Spain but was not picked again after the 2015 player revolt against the federation. She currently plays for Fiorentina in Serie A. She was talking to Alex Ibaceta.
Talking points
Putellas speaks out: Alexia Putellas has become the latest star to call for change, telling TUDN: “We all want the same thing, for there be respect for our profession the same as there has been for so many years in the men’s. We fight for that. It is clear that the union between the players is the first step, and I will always defend that the player is a player more than anything else.”
Gunners rebuild: Arsenal are continuing to invest in their squad and announced this week that the World Cup winner Laia Codina has joined from Barcelona. Other summer arrivals include Alessia Russo, Amanda Ilestedt and Cloé Lacasse.
Quote of the week
Now you all have the star on the shirt that you all longed for. Not just the one we are wearing on our chests but all the stars in the sky who have been there for us” – Spain’s Olga Carmona on her father passing away on the day of the World Cup final.
Recommended viewing
A reminder of what we really should be talking about: Jenni Hermoso’s brilliance as a football player. Her second goal against Zambia (1min 17sec in) was perhaps not her best, but it was her 50th for Spain in her 100th game.
Still want more?
Malala Yousafzai has called on football to step up the fight against gender discrimination after meeting the exiled Afghanistan women’s team in Australia. Suzanne Wrack reports.
Anita Asante explains why Luis Rubiales’s behaviour is symptomatic of wider problems for the women’s game, while Sid Lowe writes on how the furore has changed Spain and Alex Ibaceta charts a revolution 40 years in the making.
Danielle Croci says Australian football needs to do more than just ride the wave of the Matildas’ progress to develop the women’s game properly.
The domestic season began in England last weekend, at Championship level, with a spectacular Bex Rayner strike, which earned Sheffield United a point at Charlton, the pick of the goals.
And get the latest transfer news with our special interactive.
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