By Michael Madyira
Pitso Mosimane has described the non-consensual kiss by former Spain FA boss Luis Rubiales on the lips of footballer Jenni Hermoso as a “kiss of victory”.
Former Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk has also defended the disgraced Rubiales, who is now out of football following the fallout over the much-publicised incident.
Rubiales grabbed headlines when he planted a kiss on forward Hermoso’s lips without her consent during the presentation of medals after Spain won the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The incident led to global calls for Rubiales to step down from his role as Spain FA boss. At first he refused, but a boycott by most of the Spanish women’s team of playing for the national team until his departure proved successful.
But the former FA boss has some sympathisers from South Africa.
“I don’t see anything wrong with [Rubiales kissing Hermoso],” said Africa’s most-capped footballer Van Wyk on Soccer Africa.
“It is something that happened in a moment. The team had won the World Cup and everyone was celebrating.
“I don’t think there were sinister motives there. It just happened in a moment and it might have been blown out of proportion.”
Rubiales, a former Uefa vice-president, is now out in the cold for sexual assault but Mosimane does not view the incident as an act of sexism.
“It was the kiss of victory,” Mosimane said.
“I don’t think his intentions were bad. They were celebrating and it just happened.”
Hermoso is now testifying in a Spanish court as Rubiales is being probed for sexual assault.
The striker insists the kiss was not consensual, saying she was left “vulnerable and a victim of aggression”.
Alexia Putellas, the current Best FIFA Women’s Player and Hermoso’s teammate, was called up as a witness in the trial.
Putellas, who is also a Ballon D’or winner, has been outspoken in her support of Hermoso and in her condemnation of Rubiales.
“What our colleague Jenni went through cannot be tolerated,” she said in September.
“Football is a reflection of our society and we didn’t want to set a precedent by brushing aside a situation like this.”
Pictured above: Former Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk.
Image source: Fifa
