Megan Rapinoe Blasts Spanish Football Federation And The United States

Megan Rapinoe, ex-USA winger, claims female footballers campaigning for equality means they are “playing two games at the same time”.

Rapinoe’s retired after USA’s last-16 exit at the Women’s World Cup and she revealed that some had been “waiting for this stumble”.

Rapinoe also criticized the “misogyny and sexism” that was displayed by Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales during the country’s first title win.

Speaking on it, Megan Rapinoe stated that: “It made me think about how much we are required to endure.”

Spain’s victory over England in the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney was overshadowed by Rubiales kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips during the presentation ceremony.

Rubiales grabbed his crotch as he celebrated the victory at the final whistle in the VIP area of Stadium Australia, and he did this besides Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.

Spain coach Jorge Vilda survived last Septembers players revolt, when RFEF revealed that about 15 players sent same emails saying they would not play for him except “significant” concerns over their “emotional state” and “health” were attended to.

Megan Rapinoe are valid though, as the RFEF continued to back Vilda and posted ‘VILDA IN’ on Spain’s official X account after their World Cup triumph.

Speaking in an interview with American magazine the Atlantic, Rapinoe, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner, said: “Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: some of the players who stood up way back last year still aren’t on the team.”

“Maybe that was something that galvanised them, but you shouldn’t have to have that.”

“There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man (Rubiales) at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.”

“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy,” Megan Rapinoe added.

However, Rubiales apologised on Monday for kissing Hermoso but Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the apologies “are not enough”.

Also, the deputy prime minister Yolanda Diaz joined those calling for him to resign.

The Spanish Football Federation has however called an extraordinary general assembly to be held on Friday “as a matter of urgency”.

Who Is Megan Rapinoe ?

Megan Anna Rapinoe is an American soccer player who was born on July 5th, 1985 and plays as a winger for OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Rapinoe is a winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin and named The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2019 and also, she won gold with the national team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

She also won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She played for the team at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the U.S. finished in second place.

Megan Rapinoe co-captained the national team alongside Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan from 2018 to 2020.

Rapinoe also previously played for the Chicago Red Stars, Philadelphia Independence, and MagicJack in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), as well as Olympique Lyon in France’s Division 1 Féminine.