Spanish football: The kiss, its fallout and Spain’s MeToo moment
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 12 September 2023
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
At the Women’s World Cup final last month, the president of the Spanish Football Federation kissed the national team’s star player - on the lips. She said it was not consensual and it sparked condemnation around the globe. Now that Luis Rubiales has resigned, what does it all mean - not just for football, but women’s rights on and off the pitch?
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Guest: Martyn Ziegler, chief sports reporter, The Times.
Host: Jane Mulkerrins.
Producer: Olivia Case.
Clips: BBC, TalkTV, ITV, SKY, ABC News, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, Jenni Hermoso, AFP, Reuters, Shescoresbanger.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | What a difference 18 days makes. |
| 0:06.0 | I will not resign. |
| 0:09.0 | I will not resign. |
| 0:11.0 | No, I will not resign. |
| 0:24.0 | So the man at the top of Spanish football has finally bowed to pressure to step down. |
| 0:30.0 | It all started three weeks ago at the final of the women's football World Cup. |
| 0:44.0 | The Spanish team had beaten England's lionesses. |
| 0:47.0 | They were on top of the world. |
| 0:49.0 | And then... |
| 0:55.0 | Millions of people have now seen the head of the Spanish Football Federation |
| 0:58.0 | Kiss a female player without consent. |
| 1:01.0 | He says the kiss was mutual and with consent. |
| 1:04.0 | However, her most so said in a video quote, |
| 1:07.0 | I didn't like it, but what can I do? |
| 1:11.0 | Was it an isolated incident or part of a much wider problem of misogyny in the game? |
| 1:20.0 | And why did it lead to such a huge outpouring of anger in Spain on the cusp of its own me to moment? |
| 1:28.0 | You're listening to stories of our times from the times and the Sunday times. |
| 1:37.0 | I'm Jane Malkerrens. |
| 1:39.0 | Today, the kiss, the beautiful game and football's equality issue. |
| 1:53.0 | I am Martin Ziegler and I'm the Chief Sports Reporter for the Times and Sunday Times. |
| 1:59.0 | Martin had been watching the game at home with his family. |
| 2:04.0 | Spain had been playing England and the family was pre-disappointed by the lionesses' loss |
... |
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