Spain’s victory in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final was a triumphant one. It should have been a solely joyous one for players who’d “grown up thinking football didn\u2019t belong to us,” as captain Irene Paredes said Saturday; players who’d braved Spain’s infamous machista<\/em> culture, dedicated their lives to soccer, and elevated their country to the pinnacle of the sport.<\/p>\n But instead, it triggered complicated feelings<\/a>. Then, in the aftermath, Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales triggered controversy.<\/p>\n During the World Cup’s traditional on-field medal ceremony, he kissed veteran midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips.<\/p>\n As celebrations continued in the locker room, Hermoso was asked and ribbed about the kiss, and responded amid laughs and smiles<\/a>: \u201cHey, but I didn\u2019t like that!\u201d<\/p>\n She and teammates learned that the kiss had been captured on video, by live television broadcasts. They were shown the video, and reacted with shrill screams, in shock.<\/p>\n Among fans, it sparked both confusion and outrage. There is no indication that Hermoso and Rubiales are in a relationship, or that the kiss was anything other than unwanted. To many, it reeked of the machismo that still dominates Spanish society.<\/p>\n It was an “attack on [Hermoso] and on all the women” who celebrated Spain’s goal in Sunday’s final, El Pa\u00eds editor Nadia Tronchoni wrote<\/a>. “What a pity that such a beautiful day ends up tarnished by this seedy machirulismo<\/em>. What little sensitivity.”<\/p>\n Rubiales, though, wasn’t done there. He later appeared in the locker room with his arm around Hermoso. He promised the players a trip to Ibiza (a popular island vacation spot), and told the entire room that he would marry Hermoso<\/a>.<\/p>\n When asked on Spanish radio about the kiss and the resultant outcry, he said<\/a>: “There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a minor show of affection, we can’t heed idiocy.”<\/p>\n His brazen reaction, in many ways, mirrored his handling of a deeper controversy. Last summer, the women’s national team’s core players raised a series of concerns with head coach Jorge Vilda and the federation. They alleged that the staff, which was once reportedly \u201cdictatorial,\u201d<\/a> remained unprofessional. They explained<\/a> that the environment had harmed both the team’s performance and their “emotional and personal state.” They felt unsupported, and in September, 15 of them sent emails to the federation indicating they\u2019d decline national team invites \u201cuntil the situation is reversed.\u201d<\/p>\n The federation, led by Rubiales, responded with a strongly worded statement<\/a> that publicized those emails, essentially vilified the players, and turned the past 11 months into a dramatic, divisive, anxiety-riddled mess.<\/p>\n