American director Woody Allen on Monday, came out in support of Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Association, who kissed his country's national team's star player, Jenni Hermoso, without her consent at the close of the game where Spain clinched the World Cup title.
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FIFA suspended Rubiales for 90-day and he received widespread public condemnation in Spain, with many calling for his resignation.
"The kiss on the soccer player was wrong, but it did not burn down a school," Allen said. "He has the duty to apologize and go ahead... they didn't hide, nor did he kiss her in a dark alley," Allen said. "He wasn't raping her, it was just a kiss and she was a friend. What's wrong with that? In any case, it is difficult to understand that a person can lose their job and be penalized in that way for kissing someone."
Considered to be one of the era-defining directors in the ethos of American Cinema, Allen has a major stain overshadowing his career. In the 1990s Allen was claimed to have sexually assaulted his stepdaughter Dylan Farrow, daughter of actress Mia Farrow, when she was a child.
According to her account, the very first event took place at her mother's residence in 1992 when she was 7 years old, claiming Allen touched her privates. In 2017 with the "Me Too" movement on the ascendancy, claims resurfaced in the media and numerous calls to boycott Woody Allen's movies became more prevalent by directors, actors and Industry officials alike.
For decades now, Allen has consistently claimed Farrow's assertions were falls, stemming from a supposed 'brainwashing' that Mia Farrow imposed on her daughter ever since she was little.
Two years ago, HBO Max aired a documentary named "Allen vs. Farrow", which rekindled many of the claims. With these accusations in the air, Some Hollywood notables said they would no longer work with Allen, and he has been a persona non grata in most major film festivals. That said, he is supposed to attend the Venice Film Festival with his new movie "Coup the Chance" on Monday.
Rubiales fortifying his position
But back to the Spaniard. The Myriad of calls calling for his immediate resignation notwithstanding, Luis Rubiales refuses to leave, claiming he was wronged. In an official statement, he said his kiss to Hermoso at the end of the Women's World Cup, was consensual.
He further wrote "I reiterate: what happened on the podium was consensual. Whether we're speaking about displays of affection as well as everything that happened subsequently to that. Relevant evidence, expert opinion, documentation and all relevant videos prove the reality as I have ascertained it. These are not opinions but clear facts."
His full statement reads: "During all this period I have suffered an unprecedented media and political lynching from which I have completely kept out of. Not just on a national level, but globally. Despite that, I have also felt a growing support from people on the streets and social media.”
He went on to thank his supporters: "The popular support strengthens in me the idea that this case has been magnified and taken out of context for other motives. I continue to believe in the independence of the bodies which must resolve this question, despite the political pressure and some in the media which are so biased that the information about this case has been the object of many manipulations, lies and censorships, but the truth has just one path and that is why I repeat, I believe that justice will be done," he said.
"Today, the TAD had decided to open a case against me. As there is no reason at all, according to the resolution of this body, to find any action as ‘very serious’, the provision suspension called for by the CSD cannot be applied. I will continue to defend myself to show the truth. I want to send a message to all the good people of our country and outside our borders, including those women who really have been abused, and have all my support – this is not about gender, this is about truth."
Rubiales added that feminism should not be used to sink a man or a woman, without a fair trial. "Equality means identical rights for everyone. Justice should be applied to people without their gender having previously marked the result. I feel bad that I have been unfairly judged by the media and politicians. This should not happen to anyone again."
The Spanish General prosecutor opened an official investigation, alleging Rubiales sexually assaulted Hermoso. It is also been noted that Hermoso herself would be well within her rights to file her own complaint, should she choose to do so.
At the same time, some Spanish Association officials expressed their public and unqualified support of Rubiales, and have threatened to leave UEFA should Rubiales be relieved of his duties. His refusal to vacate his position has brought about a wave of irate reactions from many officials, including 81 Spanish professional players from La Liga, saying they will not play for the national team again until he is relieved of his duties.
The end of this scandal does not seem to be in sight, and it will accompany the professional sporting world for some time to come.
First published: 17:46, 09.04.23