Last Sunday, Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history.
Olga Carmona’s first-half goal saw them to a 1-0 victory over England in the final in the Australian city of Sydney but celebrations of that historic achievement have been overshadowed by events away from the pitch.
Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football association (RFEF) kissed their forward Jenni Hermoso during the presentation ceremony on the pitch afterwards, and a week of statements, resignations and more statements has followed.
Hermoso denied she consented to the kiss. The 33-year-old, alongside 80 fellow Spanish players, has refused to play for the national team until changes to the leadership are made.
Rubiales refused to resign but was then suspended by FIFA, world football’s governing body, while the RFEF has continued to staunchly stand by its president and even threatened Hermoso with legal action.
Here’s a timeline of events from a complex seven days in Spanish football.
Sunday: Spain win World Cup and Rubiales kisses Hermoso
Spain win the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over England at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
The triumph comes amid the backdrop of a dispute between the RFEF and members of the team. Last September, 15 Spain players wrote to the RFEF to…
