Sarina Wiegman, England’s women’s football manager, stressed the urgent need for change in culture in women’s football following the guilty decision against former Spanish football federation head Luis Rubiales for sexually assaulting Spanish player Jenni Hermoso. The decision, which found Rubiales guilty of forcibly kissing Hermoso during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 festivities, sparked a global discussion on gender equality, respect, and power dynamics in football and sports governance.
Wiegman’s Appeal for Reform
In response to the judgment, Wiegman publicly applauded Hermoso and her teammates for their perseverance and fortitude in fighting not only for justice, but also against institutional restrictions in Spanish football. She stood with the Spanish players who protested against the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and played an essential part in ensuring accountability.”The courage shown by Jenni Hermoso and her teammates is truly inspiring,” Wiegman told me. “They challenged a long-standing culture of power imbalance and disrespect in women’s football. This example has demonstrated that there is still more work to be done. She emphasized that this was not an isolated incident, but rather symptomatic of a bigger problem affecting women’s football around the world. While investment, visibility, and professionalism in women’s sports have improved, cultural attitudes about female athletes still need to alter significantly.
The Wider Issue of Gender Discrimination in Football
Wiegman’s comments are aligned with a broader conversation about gender discrimination in sports. Women footballers have historically faced unequal treatment as compared to their male counterparts, ranging from wage and sponsorship disparities to harassment and a lack of participation in leadership positions. The Rubiales case emphasized the challenges that female athletes face when speaking out against inappropriate behavior, as Hermoso faced months of review, rejection from officials, and a judicial battle to obtain justice. The Spanish national squad went on strike to seek changes inside the federation, resulting in Rubiales’ removal and organizational improvements.
Progress and Next Steps
Following the ruling, the Spanish government and international football associations reaffirmed their commitment to making football a safer and more inclusive place for women. However, Wiegman believes that regulatory reforms alone are insufficient, a culture transformation is required in which women are treated equally with men in all aspects of the game.FIFA and UEFA have received criticism to tighten their policies against sexual misconduct and discrimination in football. Many federations are actively contemplating forcing coaches, officials, and players to receive harassment prevention and gender awareness training. Wiegman concluded by calling for collective action, stating, “We must use this moment as a turning point.” Football should be a safe environment for all, which needs cultural change from the top down.
Impact on Women’s Football Moving Forward
The Rubiales affair has raised awareness of the issues that women in football confront, and players throughout the world are increasingly raising their voices to demand better treatment. Wiegman’s call for cultural reform represents a growing movement of female players and coaches advocating for fundamental change in sports governance. While the road to equality in football is long, moments like this remind us that progress is achievable when players, coaches, and fans band together to combat injustice. The goal is that the legacy of this case will be more than just a conviction, but a genuine, long-lasting change in how women in football are treated around the world.
England coach Sarina Wiegman calls for cultural change in women’s football after Luis Rubiales’ guilty verdict, urging respect, equality, and systemic reform.
“Sarina Wiegman, England’s coach, has called for cultural change in women’s football following Luis Rubiales’ guilty decision, seeking respect, equality, and institutional reform”.
