You'd think people would be smarter, after all this time. But then you look at what's happening across the pond in Spain, and you think "Nah, we're just as dumb as we were when we were sitting in caves staring at fire."
Remember earlier this week, when the Blob speculated that Spain's women's team, which just won the World Cup, might get a second W when it came out that the head of Spain's soccer federation (the RFEF), Luis Rubiales, slapped a lip-lock on Spanish star Jenni Hermoso in the post-match celebration that was at the very least improper?
The women were already at odds with Rubiales for treating them like second-class citizens and saddling them with a coach they couldn't stand. But for this, Rubiales got called in front of the federation's general assembly.
Maybe this was the end! Maybe they'd finally be rid of a functionary they despised! Mayb--
But, nooooooo,
Instead, Rubiales doubled down, refusing to resign, claiming Hermoso was lying, saying he was the victim here. And rather than punish him for being such a prize sexist pig, you know what the RFEF did?
It actually backed the guy they called on the carpet to begin with.
In the face of a widespread boycott by players, the RFEF threatened to sue Hermoso for lying, saying there is conclusive evidence "the President has not lied," and claiming that the whole thing was a campaign of "fake feminism."
It also issued a veiled threat to the other national team players -- plus 50-some more, plus even a few men's players -- who have said they would never again play for Spain as long as Rubiales was president of the RFEF. The RFEF responded by saying the players had "an obligation" to play for the national team "if they are called for it."
All of which illuminates why the women's side has been at odds with Rubiales and the RFEF to begin with. Could there possibly be a clearer demonstration of the organization's lack of respect, not to say gratitude?
Hey, thanks for winning the World Cup, ladies! Now get back in line, you bunch of f****** liars. Especially you, Hermoso.
Good God. That is some galaxy-level asshat-tery right there.
At this very moment, in fact, waves of it are probably spreading across the vastness of space, reaching Alpha Centauri and Vulcan and maybe even the Romulan home world -- where the Romulans are no doubt thinking, "Geez, these people are even bigger douche canoes than we are. Better steer clear of THAT planet."
Look. I suppose this could all be a miscommunication, this kiss thing, to play the devil's advocate. Maybe Rubiales hugged Hermoso and thought it would be OK to give her a peck on the lips. Maybe Hermoso didn't have time to say no before Rubiales moved in. Maybe his definition of "peck" was the full-on grab-her-face lip-lock to which Hermoso rightly objected.
Maybe all of that. Or none of it.
But wouldn't someone with an ounce of common decency have profusely apologized once he realized it made Hermoso uncomfortable? Wouldn't he not have tried to pressure Hermoso, and (through a proxy) her parents to make a public statement saying he was a fine fellow and it was all cool? Wouldn't he not have been such an unrepentant jerk about it, and wouldn't his federation not have compounded the stupid by essentially saying Hermoso was the jerk?
All over Sportsball World right now, universities and professional teams and ruling bodies are discovering there are consequences for not taking seriously complaints about sexual assaults and unwelcome advances. That news, however, apparently has not reached the RFEF.
Something tells me it's about to get an education.
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