Australian Police, Where the Women’s Football World Cup final was played He can investigate the kiss of Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Jenni Beautiful In the event that the football player filed a criminal complaint or testified in the ocean country after the victory of Spain.
The New South Wales Police, whose capital is Sydney, where the match was held, told EFE today, “In general, anyone can file a complaint. However, the victim must present an official statement for the incident to be investigated.” .
They also told EFE that “no complaints were made” about Rubiales’ kiss with Hermoso, and that he could report it in person or virtually.
In recent days, some journalists and social network users in Australia have questioned why the authorities have not launched an investigation into the incident despite what happened there and the legal framework.
Michaela Boland, former correspondent for ABC public channel, told her X (former Twitter) account, “The attack took place in Australia. Why didn’t the Australian Police file a criminal complaint against Rubiales?” users.
Australia includes in its legislation the concept of positive consent, which implies the explicit consent of both parties to any sexual relationship. In such a case, if it is detected that there is an unauthorized kissing, could be considered an offense classified as “inappropriate assault”It is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years in Australia.
However, Karen O’Connell, a legal expert in the field of gender discrimination, evaluated the possibility of the investigation being successful today as “remote” since the football player had already left the country.
Some Australian athletes and commentators have positioned themselves in Hermoso’s favor, such as national team players Sam Kerr and Setph Catley, who participated in the repost of the Spanish footballer’s comments on X (formerly Twitter).
Former Australian footballer Craig Foster said in an opinion piece published yesterday in Mammamia, Rubiales’ move raises “a much bigger problem” that requires women to lead a shift of powerful positions in football culture.
Foster also criticized the silence of most players on the Spanish men’s team.He complained: “If they refused to play, the case would be closed immediately (…) Yet for the most part they remain silent”.
Meanwhile, former Australian Olympic athlete Jana Pittman, who participated in the 2000 Games, was encouraged last night to tell ABC she had “received an inappropriate kiss from an international coach, not mine,” and that was normal. in that environment.
Journalist Annabel Crabb published an analysis on the ABC network titled “How an unwanted kiss in Sydney revolutionized Spanish football,” which Hermoso considers to be at a turning point.
“If you don’t report such an incident, you will feel guilty for not defending yourself or protecting other women, and if you do you risk being labeled a woman who hates men,” Crabb said.