Rubiales and the Jenni Hermoso case: “Chronic machismo, lack of empathy and lack of self-criticism, make him incapable of exercising any leadership role”

The thing about Luis Rubiales, the still president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, is a case study. It is not clear if he is from sports sciences, anthropology, feminism or urbanity. But that his behavior will be analyzed in detail by different disciplines, there is no doubt. Rarely can such a primitive being in full exercise of power be seen intact and in its natural state in a country that identifies itself as developed, modern and progressive. If the background had been, say, Peruvian, the contrast would be tempered by local conservatism and our tragic statistics in terms of sexual harassment and violence. But Rubiales has achieved the impossible: surprising even Latin America from his federative altar.

The facts are clear: the manager not only caused an initial desertion in part of the Spanish squad with his manners and arbitrariness, but he went on to celebrate the triumph of the soccer players who made the effort to tolerate his management with genital gestures in the presidential box . Then, in full decoration, he kissed Jenni Hermoso, the creative flyer, on the mouth before the cameras of the world.

Regarding the natural scandal that resulted from his sexist behavior, the leader assured that the world’s criticism was stupid. A few days later, he stammered out an apology so forced and convoluted that all he made clear was that he didn’t own up to his fault. On Friday, finally, he called a meeting with the sole purpose of victimizing himself in front of his daughters and assessing the state of his clientele network, an event that he took advantage of to lie by assuring that the kiss was consented.

It is not anecdotal that Rubiales believes he is living in an infinite episode of ‘Mad Men’. Chronic machismo, repeated arrogance, lack of empathy, disdain for others, boastful arrogance, lack of self-criticism and, therefore, the impossibility of correcting himself before the athletes whom he has failed and should serve, incapacitate him. to exercise any managerial function. The refusal to resign the position is only the last symptom of a common condition: that of a man delighted with what the mirror shows him and who cannot recognize that, due to decency and position, he is obliged to prudence, to decorum. and a respect that is alien to them. It’s bad news for the sport. Everyone, especially in these pages, should be talking about the feat of the Spanish women, but he gets the headlines.

Something, however, can be salvaged from this incident: Rubiales’ shamelessness has been such that he has aligned all factions, even the normally divergent ones. It is not a small thing. Any cause can take advantage of an issue like this in order to escalate a problem, put it on the table and dissect it for educational purposes. Let that be what follows: the moral autopsy of a man who does not even deserve the title of courtesy.