New Delhi: When Spain’s World Cup victory in 2023 should have been celebrated for the athleticism and determination of the players, a different moment took center stage: a kiss between Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, and midfielder Jenni Hermoso. Spanish star and two time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Alexia Putellas summed up the reaction with two words: “Se acabó” – “It’s over.”
The phrase, posted to her social media, became a rallying cry that swept through Spanish football, uniting players and fans alike in a movement against sexism and unprofessionalism in the sport. This pivotal moment, now captured in the Netflix documentary It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football, delves into the events surrounding the kiss and the lasting repercussions for Rubiales, Hermoso, and the Spanish women’s national team.
The Kiss that overshadowed the World Cup Triumph
The Netflix documentary opens with Spain’s World Cup-winning squad members reflecting on the unexpected impact of the kiss. As the Spanish team celebrated their historic victory over England, Rubiales planted a kiss on Hermoso’s lips in a move he later described as consensual, which Hermoso denied. For Hermoso and many of her teammates, what should have been a joyful celebration of their hard-earned triumph quickly turned into a tense confrontation about consent and respect.
Adding to the discomfort, footage also surfaced of Rubiales celebrating Spain’s victory by grabbing his crotch, an act caught on camera while he stood near Spanish royalty. Defender Irene Paredes recalls the initial surprise and confusion among the players. “In that moment, we were just happy for the title,” she reflects. “But little by little, we realized what happened after.”
For Hermoso, the controversy had only begun. She alleged that the Spanish football federation (RFEF) pressured her to publicly claim that the kiss was consensual, an assertion further reinforced by Futpro players’ union president Amanda Gutierrez. In the documentary, Gutierrez recounts Hermoso’s distress as she was pushed to protect Rubiales, claiming that even her friends and family faced pressure to downplay the incident.
A Public and Defiant Stand
Despite the growing scandal, Rubiales initially stuck to his guns and refused to step down. Five days after Spain’s victory, he stood before an emergency RFEF meeting, resolute that he would not resign. For Putellas and her teammates, this moment marked a breaking point. “The lies, the attitude, defending himself but attacking Jenni at the same time,” she says in the documentary, describing the feeling of betrayal. “Those people knew the truth and they applauded him just to protect themselves.”
Later that day, 81 Spanish players, including all 23 members of the World Cup squad, announced they would not play for Spain’s women’s team until Rubiales resigned. Their demand wasn’t only for Rubiales’ removal but for an overhaul of the leadership within the Spanish football system. Star midfielder Putellas suggested that it was time for a complete structural change of the system.
A kiss that could potentially change women’s football forever.
Watch how the football community is rallying against sexism after Luis Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss. pic.twitter.com/QOTWItA02S
— DW News (@dwnews) August 29, 2023
The push for reform didn’t end with Rubiales’ resignation. After weeks of condemnation, Rubiales eventually stepped down and was banned from all football-related activities by FIFA for three years. However, the ordeal has taken him even further, as he faces a trial for sexual assault, a charge he continues to deny, maintaining that he is a victim of “social assassination.”
Following Rubiales’ resignation, the players lifted their boycott once the RFEF committed to “immediate and profound changes” within the organization. Hermoso, at the heart of this historic movement, reflects in the documentary on the power of their stand. “We’ve set a precedent, and there are so many women who can feel stronger,” she said. The players’ bold response has not only reshaped Spanish football but has also empowered women in sports globally.
Years of Tension: A Troubled History
Though the Rubiales’ controversy brought widespread attention to Spanish football, the struggles within the women’s team had begun long before the 2023 World Cup. It’s All Over delves into the uneasy backdrop of the team’s successes, tracing the roots of player dissatisfaction and systemic issues.
Jorge Vilda, the head coach who led Spain to their World Cup win, became the second coach of the national team since 1988, succeeding Ignacio Quereda. Quereda’s tenure, which spanned nearly 27 years, ended after players demanded his removal following a poor performance in the 2015 World Cup. Quereda’s treatment of players, described as patronizing and at times even vulgar, fostered an atmosphere of frustration and resentment.
Jorge Vilda has been sacked as manager and sporting director of the Spain women’s national team ❌#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/YO5s3nZtnD
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 5, 2023
Under Vilda, new challenges arose. The documentary notes that following a disappointing showing at the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros, fifteen players sent identical emails to the RFEF expressing concern for their “emotional state” and “health” due to Vilda’s leadership. While the players did not explicitly call for Vilda’s firing, their dissatisfaction was clear, and reports circulated that they felt controlled by his overbearing style.
In response, the RFEF and Vilda disregarded the players’ concerns, and some media outlets framed ‘Las 15,’ as the group of dissenting players came to be known, as rebellious and ungrateful. Defender Irene Paredes recalls that messages she sent to Rubiales, detailing the players’ needs and requests for team improvements, were leaked to the media, an act that she believes further fueled the friction between players and management.
Hope Amidst Change
Spain’s victory should have been a moment of pure celebration, but the journey of its players has come to symbolize more than just athletic achievement. For players like Ivana Andres, the achievements on the field felt overshadowed by the scandal that followed. “After so much work, after so much effort that we put in, they stole that away from us,” she said.
While the documentary details the challenges and sacrifices the players endured, it also points toward the positive change emerging from their courage to confront the system. The RFEF has since apologized to the players and pledged reforms, although the journey toward genuine, lasting improvement remains ongoing. Hermoso’s words resonate strongly with those who have been inspired by the ‘Se Acabó’ movement: “The fact that our team, and players worldwide, were willing to take a stand, gave me so much strength. It gave me a superpower to confront it and keep going.”
It’s All Over not only documents the incident but serves as a testament to the players’ resilience, determination, and unity in the face of adversity. In confronting the system that failed them, Spain’s women’s team has set a global precedent, reminding women in sports and beyond that their voices matter, and when they speak together, change is possible.
