In a shocking turn of events, the sports world is immersed in controversy once again. Luis Rubiales, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) head, has been accused of se*ual assault following an incident involving Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso after Spain’s historic Women’s World Cup victory.
Following the accusations, he has recently resigned from his esteemed position as the president as disclosed by himself on a Twitter post. As NBA fans, we may not be directly connected to the world of soccer. However, it’s hard to ignore when prominent figures like Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen share their opinions on such matters.
Power couple Larsa and Marcus shared their contrasting views on their podcast, ‘Separation Anxiety.’ Pippen strongly criticized Rubiales, stating that while Latin cultures may be known for their affectionate greetings, what he did was “inappropriate, off-limits, and wrong.”
Larsa Pippen CLASHED with her toyboy boyfriend Marcus Jordan as he appeared to DEFEND Luis Rubiales, the shamed Spain Football Federation president, who forcibly kissed a player at the Women’s World Cup.#seanknows pic.twitter.com/AN2EjLPv16
— Sean Cardovillis (@seancardo) September 7, 2023
She highlighted the power dynamics at play and the vulnerability women can feel in such situations. Jordan, however, played the devil’s advocate, suggesting that Rubiales may not have been fully aware of his actions in the heat of the moment. He mentioned the significance of Spain’s first Women’s World Cup victory but failed to convince Pippen.
The debate continued, with Pippen expressing her disagreement with Jordan’s stance. She stated, “What does that mean?” to Jordan’s views. She emphasized that such actions should not be tolerated, regardless of cultural differences.
Eventually, even Jordan acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the need for boundaries. He ended by saying, “Don’t kiss anybody, put your hands on anybody, stay in your lane”, while talking about how Rubiales got suspended.
Luis Rubiales resigned amidst accusations of se*ual assault
The incident occurred just moments after Spain’s thrilling 1-0 victory against England in the Women’s World Cup final. As the Spanish squad lined up to receive their medals and congratulations from dignitaries, Luis Rubiales was standing beside Spanish Queen Letizia and other prominent figures.
He greeted the players with hugs and kisses on the cheek. However, it was the interaction between Rubiales and Jennifer Hermoso that ignited a firestorm of controversy. Caught on camera, Rubiales hugged Hermoso and then planted an unexpected kiss on her lips. Which was followed by two slaps on her back.
Hermoso, in a statement on social media, stated that she did not give her consent for this kiss. Thereby, leaving her feeling “vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, se*ist, out-of-place act”. On the other hand, Rubiales initially admitted to making a mistake but defended his actions, claiming the kiss was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric, and with consent”.
Furthermore, Luis Rubiales decided to step down from his role as the president of the Spanish soccer federation. His resignation came after facing intense criticism for the unwanted kiss. In a letter posted on Twitter, Rubiales explained that he informed the interim president, Mr. Pedro Rocha. Additionally, he resigned from his position in UEFA to allow for the appointment of a new vice president.
Rubiales expressed that prolonging the situation wouldn’t benefit either the Federation or Spanish football, especially since there were forces at play that would hinder his potential return.
The situation took a legal turn when Jennifer Hermoso filed a criminal complaint accusing Luis Rubiales of se*ual assault. As the legal proceedings unfold, the sports world will closely watch how this controversy is resolved. Furthermore, Larsa and Marcus might surprise us with their opinion on the same.