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The Journal.

The Kiss Rocking Women’s Soccer

The Journal.

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News, Business News

4.25.8K Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2023

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup this month was quickly overshadowed when Luis Rubiales, a top Spanish soccer official, abruptly kissed a player on the lips while on stage. As WSJ’s Rachel Bachman explains, the incident has been met with condemnation and calls for bigger changes in the sport. Further Listening: -U.S. Soccer’s Equal Pay Deal and One Player Who Helped Negotiate It -How Soccer Fans Killed the Super League Further Reading: -Spain Soccer in Turmoil as Federation Chief Refuses to Quit Over World Cup Kiss -A Year After a Players’ Mutiny Against the Coach, Spain Is in the Women’s World Cup Final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This summer, 32 women's soccer teams competed in the World Cup.

0:10.6

It was held in Australia and New Zealand and was the largest women's World Cup in history.

0:20.1

The final match came down to Spain and England.

0:29.8

Spain's team, which only qualified for its first Women's World Cup in 2015, overcame England,

0:45.1

beat the Lionesses 1-0 in Sydney to win its first ever World Cup title.

0:51.5

It is Spain wins the World Cup!

0:56.8

Our colleague Rachel Bachman was there and after the final whistle, Spain's champion players

1:04.1

poured onto the field, embraced and dove on top of each other into a big pile of joy.

1:11.1

And then, the medal ceremony began right there on the same field.

1:18.6

So, there's a platform that's moved onto the field and the players walk across the platform,

1:25.6

almost like a graduation ceremony and are handed their first-place medals.

1:29.8

And one of the people doing the congratulating was the president of the Spanish Soccer Federation,

1:35.6

Luis Rubialas.

1:37.4

Rubialas greeted each player as they came through.

1:40.4

He gave them big hugs and kissed several on the cheek.

1:44.4

Then, one of Spain's veteran players, Jenny Hermoso,

1:48.8

Gitter Metal, and walks across the platform up to him.

1:52.9

Rubialas grabbed her, hugged her, and then put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her.

2:02.0

It was startling.

2:07.0

It's customary for dignitaries to shake hands of players, typically.

2:11.3

If they know them very well, they might hug them.

2:14.4

I have never seen someone in his position kiss another player on the lips.

...

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