UNITED NATIONS: The ‘UN Women’ has underlined its firm stance against harassment or abuse of women participating in sports.
In a statement, the agency applauded FIFA for its decision to punish Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales for kissing star player Jennifer Hermoso without her permission after the country’s women’s team won the World Cup earlier this month.
“UN Women, as a supporter of women’s sport and a partner of FIFA, welcomes FIFA’s decisive action about the actions of the president of the Spanish football federation and the launching of an extensive probe after an unacceptable act towards a sportswoman at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final,” it said.
Spain achieved its first-ever triumph at the championship, held every four years, by defeating the favorite England 1-0. The competition was held in Australia and New Zealand this year. The kiss incident occurred on August 20 at the medal ceremony in Sydney. Rubiales claimed that the kiss was accidental and consenting, but Hermoso has categorically said that it was uninvited and that she felt violated.
Since then, people have urged Rubiales to step down, and the winning team has declared it would not represent Spain until he is gone. FIFA confirmed that he has been suspended for 90 days while taking disciplinary action.
Asserting “zero tolerance for any type of abuse or harassment, at anytime, anywhere in women’s sports,” UN Women stated it “joins all those.” “Women worldwide have the right to fully participate in games without any sort of harassment or abuse – be it inside closed doors, on social media, in locker rooms, or the world stage,” the statement read.
Additionally, it is the responsibility of every sports participant, regardless of level, to do their share. “To truly say it is over, we must collectively commit that violence, harassment, and abuse in women’s sport will not be tolerated and cannot continue.” —APP
