01 September 2023 , 12:29
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England star Leah Williamson has blasted football's "sexist and misogynistic environment" amid the ongoing controversy gripping Spanish women's football.
Spanish football was plunged into scandal following the actions of suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales during full-time celebrations at this summer's Women's World Cup.
The 46-year-old kissed Spain striker Jennifer Hermoso during the trophy presentation, which the 33-year-old later claimed was non-consensual. The RFEF chief was also seen grabbing his crotch during full-time celebrations.
After sensationally refusing to stand down from his post, Rubiales was suspended by FIFA while Spanish prosecutors have also opened a preliminary investigation into whether the incident amounts to sexual assault.
And Arsenal and Lionesses defender Williamson, who missed the World Cup through injury, has lamented how the events have "overshadowed" Spain's Women's World Cup triumph but has called out an environment which enabled the actions to occur.
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"I feel so sorry for Jenni," the 26-year-old told Roman Kemp on Capital Breakfast. "You’ve just done the biggest thing in your whole career, and it's been overshadowed by something like this, which is not your fault.
"I just think it was inevitable actions of an environment that has been sexist and misogynist, for so long. As well, we've only just started reporting it.
"Because at one point, it was just the way of the world. And it's not to say that, everyone's bad and all men are bad. It's to say that there are people that have blocked us. Our game was banned for 50 years. You know what I mean? This is a crazy incident that's happened. But it's not isolated."
The Spanish national team was already entrenched in controversy before the Women's World Cup 15 senior players protested the employment of divisive head coach Jorge Vilda as well as the unequal standards and treatment provided by the RFEF.
The players' protests were dismissed by president Rubiales with full support offered to Vilda.
However, the actions of Rubiales and Vilda, along with those within the RFEF's upper echelons, in the fallout from the World Cup have largely been viewed as verifying the allegations put forth by the 15 players. Calls for wholesale change within the RFEF and football's other governing bodies have intensified.
"Maybe [Spain] were meant to win that game," Williamson said of the response since the Women's World Cup final. And it was meant to be seen to not let this happen again, and I think [Jenni Hermoso] is so brave for reporting it."
On the solidarity shown by women's football around the world, Williamson added: "I think that the female football world competes on the pitch, but off of it, we are one of the biggest bodies of people that couldn't be more aligned.
"So everybody's with Jenni and it's not something that will get solved with an apology. This is something that has been deep rooted for a long time and in our environment and needs to change."