Luis Rubiales is sad symbol of much bigger, systemic problem for women’s football | Anita Asante

Lack of respect shown to Jenni Hermoso reflects dismissive attitudes to female players in Europe and beyond

I was totally aghast when Luis Rubiales grabbed Jenni Hermoso’s head and kiss her on the mouth as Spain collected their World Cup winners’ medals in Sydney. Yet if it was truly shocking to see such brazen behaviour unfold on the biggest stage, that moment was also, sadly, all too typical of the way women across the world are often treated in the game’s shadows.

Far too many players can tell you stories of organisations, clubs and coaches with seedy undertones. Over the years, playing in different countries, I’ve seen, heard and experienced enough not to be surprised by Rubiales’s audacity in thinking he could get away with it. In his world, as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and, let’s not forget, a Uefa vice-president, this is clearly normalised behaviour.

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