TAD breaks Government’s strategy towards Rubiales: does not allow for Rubiales to be removed from office
A group of feminists gathered in Madrid on a Friday afternoon to raise their voices against what they describe as entrenched machismo in sports governance. The women who spoke and marched carried banners with messages about aggression and accountability, insisting that the response to a controversial kiss during the World Cup final should not be treated as a private matter but as a broader cultural problem.
The mobilization known as Libres y Combativas, a feminist platform backed by the Students’ Union and the Revolutionary Left, called for demonstrations across Spain on 1 September. The rally in Madrid, while somewhat smaller than a previous protest in the capital, drew attention for its determination and organization. The 8M Commission coordinated the event, which Madrid’s Government Delegation documented as attracting 800 participants.
Protesters in Puerta del Sol carried signs that read phrases like Rubiales and the macho mafia are out, Sufficient, and Resignation. They joined in a chorus of chants that targeted what they described as a culture of rape, harassment, and patriarchy. The mood combined anger with a demand for concrete political accountability and structural change in the leadership of national sports institutions.
Organizers voiced frustration with what they see as performative sympathy from officials. Coral Latorre, a spokesperson for the coordinating group, said there was weariness over what she called crocodile tears and a sense that many figures were trying to wash their faces rather than face up to the real issues. She stressed that the action was about more than a single incident; it was about shifting norms and demanding real reforms that would prevent repetition.
On the matter of the Sports Administrative Court’s decision, the group expressed disappointment that Rubiales was not found to have abused power in the moment of the kiss. The response from activists was clear: the decision did not settle the broader questions they believe need to be addressed. They emphasized a continued commitment to visibility, protest, and sustained advocacy, insisting that the issue of gender-based violence in sports leadership remains a critical public concern that requires ongoing attention and action. The statement reflected a belief that social change requires more than symbolic gestures; it demands accountability and transformative policy.