Had Luis Rubiales expressed sincere regret after landing an inappropriate post-match kiss on the World Cup-winning star Jenni Hermoso, he might not currently be the most derided and isolated public figure in Spain. Instead, the head of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) issued a transparent non-apology, claiming the act had been misunderstood and was a consensual moment of celebration. When Ms Hermoso firmly disagreed, Mr Rubiales disgracefully used his power to try to discredit the player and threatened her with legal action for lying. That in itself should have been sufficient for him to be forced out of office if – as proved to be the case – he refused to resign.
What has since unfolded has been a global embarrassment for Spain, exposing to the world the hidebound attitudes and sense of masculine entitlement at the top of one of its most important civil institutions.
