Spanish star Aitana Bonmati speaks out on Luis Rubiales kiss scandal

The newly crowned UEFA Player of the Year has spoken out on the controversy that continues to dominate world football.

Spanish star Aitana Bonmati has spoken out against federation chief Luis Rubiales, who refuses to step aside amid a scandal that has engulfed Spanish football since he forcibly kissed striker Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney.

Bonmati, who won the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player, was also named the European Women’s Player of the Year at the UEFA Club Football Awards, and used her acceptance speech to speak out in support of her teammate.

Hermoso has maintained she did not consent to being kissed on the lips during the trophy presentation, and felt “vulnerable and the victim of an assault”.

Rubiales has refused to resign amid the furore that the kiss sparked across Spain, and the subsequent crisis has garnered support from all corners of the sport.

In accepting her award, Bonmati took the opportunity to reinforce her support of Hermoso and women in sport broadly.

“As a society, we cannot allow the abuse of power in a working environment or disrespect,” Bonmati said on stage.

“To all women who are suffering the same thing as Jenni, we’re with you.

“Spanish soccer is going through bad moments right now. We won the World Cup, but we’re not talking a lot about that because of some things I’d rather not ignore.”

Bonmati (second left) won the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP

The issue of Rubiales was also raised by Women’s Coach of the Year, England coach Sarina Wiegman.

“This team deserves to be celebrated and deserves to be listened to,” Wiegman said.

“We all know the issues around the Spanish team. It really hurts me as a coach, a mother of two daughters, as a wife and human being.

“There is also a still a long way to go in women’s football and society.”

Rubiales has refused to step down as Spain’s National Sports Council agree to investigate the matter, with the nation’s courts also looking into it on the potential grounds it could constitute “sexual assault”.

Bonmati was also embraced by Rubiales after the World Cup final. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Bonmati won the World Cup Golden Ball. (Photo by Izhar KHAN / AFP)

Rubiales strongly denies that the kiss was not consensual, and despite apologising, has since released a statement in response to government pressure for him to resign.

“I want to send a message to all the good people in our country and beyond our borders, including those women who have really been attacked and who have my full support and understanding: this is not about gender, it is about truth,” Rubiales wrote as published in Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

In addition to government pressure, over 80 players are currently on strike from the national team as long as Rubiales continues to lead the organisation.

After the ceremony, UEFA’s head of women’s football, Nadine Kessler, praised the speeches given by the award winners, saying that they “stand for more than just their perfect performances”.

Originally published as Spanish star Aitana Bonmati speaks out on Luis Rubiales kiss scandal