London: Days after the country's women players went on to launch a protest over the unconsented misconduct with a Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso by federation chief Luis Rubiales, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lauded the female mass strike Saturday terming it as "giving the world a lesson".

Sanchez said: "Our players have won twice: first on the pitch, and now in giving a lesson to the world, a lesson of equality between men and women." Jenni Hermoso also participated in the mass strike of women players last week in which she said she did not consent to be kissed by suspended Luis Rubiales that occurred after the triumph of Spain in the Women's World Cup final.

Sanchez, speaking in Malaga, applauded the players' stance. Last week in a statement released by the women players' union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up "if the current leadership continues" at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The 46-year-old Rubiales defied expectations and refused to resign, provoking widespread indignation. Spain was a feminist country, with women who had decided "to no longer submit, PM Sanchez said adding that "never again". It's over" in reference to the slogan chanted in demonstrations in support of Hermoso.

On Friday, Spain's sports court agreed to investigate Rubiales for the forced kiss as the scandal-hit football chief insisted he would defend himself to "prove the truth". The government lodged a complaint against Rubiales through the state-run National Sports Council (CSD) a week ago, accusing him of "very serious" offences.

In agreeing to take the case, the Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) said it considered the behaviour in question "serious", falling short of the government´s characterisation of Rubiales' actions. Rubiales has been suspended by the world governing body FIFA for 90 days while it decides on disciplinary measures.

Meanwhile, Veronica Boquete, a former national team skipper told AFP-TV in an interview Saturday that the scandal was "the straw that broke the camel's back". "It means that when there are no cameras, when there is no one else when it's not the final of a World Cup, a lot of other things happen, which we normalise and let pass when that shouldn't be the case," said the Boquete. The 36-year-old, who plays in Italy with Fiorentina, was axed as skipper in 2017. She hit out at the management of coach Jorge Vilda who took Spain to the World Cup title last month despite tensions between him and his players.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 04 2023

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