The Controversial Kiss: Rubiales' Actions Cast a Shadow Over Spain's Women's World Cup Triumph, Claims FIFA Secretary General

FIFAs former Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, expressed her satisfaction with the widespread support that Jenni Hermoso received after the unwanted kiss from Luis Rubiales. Rubiales' actions, according to Samoura, had a negative impact on the Women's World Cup final and disrupted the celebrations of the world champions. During an interview with CNN Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis at the Best of Africa Awards in London, Samoura admitted that she immediately recognized the inappropriate behavior.

The fallout from Rubiales' behavior during the August medal ceremony led to a crisis in Spanish soccer and drew widespread condemnation in Spain and globally. After facing intense criticism for weeks, Rubiales stepped down as the president of the country's soccer federation last month. Now, at the age of 46, Rubiales is facing an investigation by Spanish prosecutors for the alleged crimes of sexual assault and coercion.

Rubiales resigned from his roles as president of the Spanish Football Federation and one of UEFA's vice-presidents.

Former UN diplomat Samoura, FIFA's first woman and first African Secretary General, praised the world's response, stating, "The majority of sports enthusiasts who also uphold women's dignity made the right judgment."

She compared Rubiales' actions to the global response witnessed during the aftermath of George Floyd's death, where a wave of activism against systemic abuse swept across the world. Just as racism has no place in society, gender bias is equally unacceptable in the realm of football.

Keep on fighting for your rights

The tragic death of Floyd at the hands of the police in 2020 is widely perceived as a pivotal moment in regards to racial issues. However, there are those who argue that labeling it as a "racial reckoning" is merely a diversionary tactic, allowing society to evade confronting the systemic race-related challenges in America. Instead of genuinely addressing these problems, this phrase serves as a way to sidestep them.

During her tenure at FIFA, Samoura played significant roles in organizing both the men’s World Cups in Russia and Qatar, as well as the women’s World Cups. However, she expressed disappointment with the most recent women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand, describing it as being "ruined by a one second gesture."

Spain's World Cup victory was overshadowed by the Rubiales incident.

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Public outrage regarding the unwelcome kiss, which occurred on the presentation stage after Hermoso received her winners medal, resonated throughout every segment of Spanish society, garnering criticism from politicians and sports figures alike.

As a result of the scandal, World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda was dismissed from his position.

"The Spanish girls, despite their victory in the highly coveted global women's football trophy, were unable to fully enjoy the moment," stated Samoura, who expressed that the incident greatly diminished their joy.

"I am aware of the power of football to bring people together... and to have this unity disrupted at the very end, following the celebration of the largest World Cup, is truly unfortunate," she further explained.

I conveyed my message to Jenni and the entire Spanish team, urging them to persevere in the fight for their rights and continue promoting women's football. I encouraged them to stay focused on achieving victory and expressed my hope that their worldwide support would continue to inspire them to win. Samoura was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Best of Africa Awards, recognizing her significant contributions to the sport.

Samoura speaks at the 2023 Best of Africa awards.

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In response to the question of whether FIFA is prepared for a female president, Samoura expressed her hope for the day when women will lead football. She believes this is a realistic possibility that could come to fruition in the near future.

"It is not within my authority to make that decision. I believe it should be determined by the 211 member associations who will determine the most suitable candidate for the position of FIFA president. Additionally, our current president [Gianni Infantino] is both young and highly capable, with several years ahead of him."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino during FIFA's virtual council meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on October 4, 2023.

FIFA/Handout/Reuters

Swiss prosecutors have dropped criminal proceedings against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has held the position since 2016. While Infantino has implemented notable reforms with the assistance of Samoura, he has also faced some criticism.

Amnesty International and FairSquare, human rights groups, criticized him for not doing enough to address the plight of migrant workers in Qatar during the preparation for the 2022 tournament. Additionally, Lise Klaveness, the president of Norway FA, raised concerns about the ethical issues surrounding migrant workers, women's rights, and the LGBTQI+ community during the organization's Congress in Doha last year. Furthermore, Klaveness, along with representatives from Norway and Sweden, did not join other delegates in applauding Infantino during his re-election as president at the recent FIFA Congress in Kigali in March, as he ran unopposed.

"But I think that for women, nothing is impossible. We have seen very competent women leading member associations," Samoura added.

Samoura shakes hands with Spain's Salma Paralluelo during the award ceremony following the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Alex Pantling/FIFA/Getty Images

Samoura will be leaving FIFA at the end of the year, with the intention of dedicating more time to her family. She expressed her confidence in the organization's current state, which has improved from the challenging period of corruption scandals under past presidents Sepp Blatter and Jérôme Valcke.

"I avoid discussing myself as it is a team effort. Organizing the World Cup involves the collaboration of 1,000 individuals, and combating discrimination in stadiums requires even more," Samoura stated.

"However, I can certainly align myself with a company that transformed from disgrace and being deemed a toxic brand, to being invited to prominent economic forums and major media platforms solely to discuss sports."

"We are succeeding because of teamwork and putting football in the centre of everything we do."