VOA文化艺术2023--Unwanted Kiss Prompts Spain to Change Soccer Culture

Unwanted Kiss Prompts Spain to Change Soccer Culture

Spain has spoken loudly through its government, politicians, soccer teams and ordinary citizens to condemn¹ the leader of its soccer federation² for kissing a player.

Luis Rubiales kissed soccer player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth just after Spain defeated England to win the women's soccer World Cup in August.

The 46-year-old Rubiales took the action during the awards ceremony following the game. Hermoso is one of the star players on Spain's team. The 33-year-old said she did not want or like the kiss.

FIFA, the world soccer governing body, later suspended Rubiales for 90 days. The Spanish government is considering whether to push for his permanent removal from the job.

Some Spanish women who grew up playing soccer said kisses and unwanted touches from male leaders were common. They want the behavior to change.

Patricia Otero is 30. She is a high school teacher but still plays soccer in her free time. She said "we have seen that all our lives," when asked about Rubiales' actions.

She said male coaches would often touch her and say "you are like a daughter to me." Otero said she was too young to know it was wrong. "You think it is normal," she said.

People in Spain now say it is time to end sexism in soccer. They point to policies and actions that favor boys and men over women and girls in the sport. For example, Otero said she and her teammates had to raise money for their team and clean their own locker³ rooms. The boys did not have to do that.

The Associated Press recently interviewed Spanish women working in soccer and other professions. Many said that Rubiales' behavior would have been ignored if the act had taken place 10 years earlier.

Maria Soleto is president of Spain's Women's Foundation. She said Spanish society has undergone a seismic⁴ shift.

At recent men's games in Spain's famous "La Liga," the country's top league, fans shouted repeatedly against Rubiales. They said he must leave his position. In Madrid, hundreds of people gathered in support of Hermoso.

The campaign of support is being called "Se Acabo" in Spain. It means "this is over." The male players on Sevilla's La Liga team wore the term on their soccer shirts.

The kiss may serve as a lesson for male leaders throughout the world. Lisa Banks is a civil rights and employment lawyer in Washington, D.C. She said men in sports now know "that an assault is an assault, even if it happens in a moment of jubilation⁵."

Although the early reactions in Spain seemed to support Rubiales, the general opinion is now against him. The women's soccer team said it will not play any other games if he keeps his job. Government lawyers are deciding whether to open a case against Rubiales for sexual aggression⁶. Some Spanish soccer federation officials are calling for his resignation.

Hermoso called the kiss "the final straw." She said the actions during the championship celebration "have been a part of our team's daily life for years."

Even before the kiss, the players had protested their treatment by soccer officials. Almost a year ago, 15 Spanish players said they would no longer play for coach Jorge Vilda if things did not get better. Spain's soccer federation sided with Vilda and replaced most of the players.

Other observers of women's sports hope the outcry over the kiss improves the financial conditions for women players. Some mid-level male soccer players earn close to $200,000 per year while the women only earn about $17,000.

Pilar Calvo of Spain's Association of Women in Professional Sports said she has seen five times the number of protests over inequality in recent days.

She said people have talked about inequality in prize money, poor training centers and a lack of financial support.

Others, including Tona Is, a former player and coach, say they feel vindicated⁷. She was a top player on Spain's under-17 team in 2018 and an assistant to Vilda until she was dismissed in 2020.

She said she lost her job because she protested about bad behavior by male leaders.

"Time has finally shown that we were right, that there have been inappropriate episodes inside the federation for years," she said.

Words in This Story

coach –n. a person who runs a sports team and helps players learn the game

locker room –n. the place where a sports team dresses and keeps their regular clothing

interview –n. a conversation between two people where one seeks information

seismic –adj. having to do with the energy created when two parts of the earth move against each other, such as in an earthquake

league –n. an organization, usually of sports teams, that creates games and a schedule and awards a winner or championship

assault –n. a form of violence where one person attacks another

jubilation –adj. a large amount of excitement

final straw –expression – the last in a series of bad things to make someone very upset and unwilling⁸ to accept any more bad things

inappropriate episode –n. an event or happening or action that is not socially permitted

1 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 locker   

n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人

参考例句：

• At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
• He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。

4 seismic   

a.地震的，地震强度的

参考例句：

• Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
• The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。

5 jubilation   

n.欢庆，喜悦

参考例句：

• The goal was greeted by jubilation from the home fans.主场球迷为进球欢呼。
• The whole city was a scene of jubilation.全市一片欢腾。

6 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

7 vindicated   

v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护

参考例句：

• I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
• Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。