The World Cup champions could not enjoy their victory. On the contrary, they are fighting a battle against the leader Luís Rubiales, a chauvinist accused of abuse. When will women be able to rest? A few weeks ago, it even seemed that women were moving towards equality, at least in the world of sport. That’s because, for the first time (just now?) a Women’s World Cup was taken seriously. The Australian Cup, which concluded on 20 August, was televised and commented as if it were a real sport. Look how wonderful, they have finally discovered that women can play football (contains irony).
But no, it wasn’t like that. And since nothing in women’s lives is easy, we had another tug of war. The proof: the victory of the Spanish national team against England could not even be celebrated and has become a serious case in the fight against harassment and machismo.
Women couldn’t just celebrate, parading in open cars, like their male counterparts do when they win a world championship. Instead, they are waging a battle against a male chauvinist and alleged abuser and are forced to create a political movement against sexism.
The horror that gave rise to all this already happened during the celebration of the victory, on the 20th, when the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, forcefully kissed the mouth of the player Jenni Hermoso, in front of the televisions and photographers, as if he were doing nothing wrong.
The certainty of impunity is truly incredible. And it is very symbolic that this happens in the final of the Women’s World Cup. It’s as if the world is saying, “Did you think you could play football, party, be free? Don’t you dare!”
Result: what was supposed to be a party, became a broad political movement and a state issue. In Spain and around the world, women (and men too) spread the hashtag #SeAcabó (something like “acabou!”, in free translation), a sort of “Me Too” of Spanish football. The movement calls for the resignation of those accused of abuse.
Rubiales, under pressure, also apologized but, at the same time, said the kiss had been agreed and he had left for war. He said she was the victim of “false feminists” and “social murder”. How many times have we heard these apologies and “mimimis” from those accused of abuse?
In an official statement last week, he repeated at the top of his lungs, with all the air of a hysterical macho: “I will not resign! I will not resign!”
And went on the attack. He did something very common among abusers: try to silence the victim through legal proceedings. Yes, in a statement the federation led by Rubiales said that Jenni Hermoso will be denounced for her words and for having offended the “honour” of the president.
Research and solidarity
Despite this, the movement against Rubiales and in solidarity with the player is growing and spreading around the world.
Yesterday the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation to investigate the leader for the possible crime of sexual violence. FIFA announced on Saturday that he would be suspended from his activities for 90 days. But wait? Is that all, FIFA? This doesn’t look like a punishment, but a light punishment for a “guy” who did something stupid (sic).
Meanwhile, the world champion players stage something of a rebellion. All the athletes of the Spanish team have warned that they will not take the field until the leader has resigned. Eleven members of the winning selection’s technical committee resigned.
Many of her male colleagues are supportive of the girls. On Saturday, the Sevilla players wore a ‘SeAcabó’ (it’s over) T-shirt to support their teammates.
The case reached the government. As ministers demonstrated in support of women, the country’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said the leader’s apology was not enough and lamented: “Our country still has a long way to go in terms of equality and respect and equal rights between women and men.”
It seems very unlikely that Rubiales will remain in office. Even if the condescension of FIFA and his colleagues in the association (the old pact of toxic masculinity) remains, he will probably have no choice. Or will you be alone shouting: “I’m not resigning, I’m not resigning” in front of an increasingly empty audience?
But even if he resigns, which would be a victory for the #SeAcabó movement, I don’t think we will have anything to celebrate.
It is unacceptable that a gesture of abuse like this takes place, even more so in a football event that should highlight women and the fight for equality. We needed to be talking about brilliant players, not a macho coach.
As long as things like this happen, we will have nothing to celebrate.
And having to fight all the time, turning everything into a political movement is exhausting, you know? The women of the Spain national team should only do something that still seems impossible for women: toast, relax and receive all the glory they are entitled to after a hard job well done. Who knows one day?
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Nina Lemos is a journalist and writer. She has been writing about feminism and behavior since the 2000s, when she founded the group “02 Neuronio” with two friends. You have already been a columnist for Folha de S.Paulo and UOL. She is one of the creators of TPM magazine. In 2015 she moved to Berlin, a city she is madly in love with. Since then she lives between news from Brazil and German lessons.
Text reflects the author’s opinion, not necessarily DW’s.
Source: Terra
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