“Disgusted.”
That was USWNT’s Alex Morgan’s reaction to Luis Rubiales’ remarkable speech on Friday, in which the head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) insisted he would not resign despite criticism of his behaviour at and after his country’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final last Sunday.
And she was not alone in feeling that way.
In his appearance at the RFEF’s Extraordinary General Assembly today, Rubiales attacked what he called “false feminism”, described himself as the victim of a “social assassination”, claimed he had given Spain player Jennifer Hermoso a “consensual peck” on the lips and said he had grabbed his crotch in celebration in recognition of head coach Jorge Vilda.
His remarks prompted 81 Spanish players, including all of the World Cup-winning squad, to sign a statement saying they would not play for the country again — but the anger was not just limited to Rubiales’ home country.
“I stand by @Jennihermoso and the Spanish players,” Morgan added in a post on Twitter. “Winning a World Cup should be one of the best moments in these players’ lives but instead it’s overshadowed by assault, misogyny, and failures by the Spanish federation.”
Alex Morgan (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
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