SYDNEY — Spain are world champions. On Sunday night in Sydney, Olga Carmona’s first-half goal beat England 1-0 and crowned a team that has played the best football of this World Cup. Yet by Monday morning, in Spain and far beyond, the conversation had been dragged away from the pitch.
The match itself was worthy of the stage. Spain’s midfield passed England ragged for long spells; England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps saved a second-half penalty from Jenni Hermoso to keep the final alive; Carmona, who later learned that her father had died days earlier, drove in the winner in the 29th minute. It is Spain’s first senior World Cup title since the men’s triumph of 2010 — and the women’s first ever.
The controversy came at the medal ceremony. Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish football federation, kissed Hermoso on the lips as she collected her medal. Footage also showed him grabbing his crotch in celebration in the VIP box. Hermoso was heard on a live stream saying she had not liked it; Rubiales later issued a video apology that satisfied few.
In Spain the incident has detonated a long-simmering argument. The squad had spent the past year in open conflict with the federation over conditions and coaching; fifteen players refused call-ups last autumn. Sunday was supposed to be the reconciliation.
Instead, a triumph built over years by a generation of brilliant players is competing for attention with the behaviour of one official. FIFA has been asked to act. The players, at least, can point to the trophy.
Media-Society.com is a press network association based in Spain, founded in 2020. More at www.media-society.com.
