In kissing Jenni Hermoso Rubiales was asserting power over her. That she did not consent, and this act took place outside of her control, is symbolically significant. In her moment of glory, she was subjected to an act, she was made passive.

Following the success of the Spanish women’s team, this act communicated to the world that these athletes are less significant than the male officials at the head of the Spanish FA. Considering parallel events in the men’s game is useful. When collecting trophies, male footballers commonly greet officials or politicians from the country hosting the event. Within these exchanges, these officials meekly shake the players hands. The messaging of these exchanges, communicated through their body language, and restrained movements, is one of humble adoration of excellence. It is appropriate. By contrast, Rubiales’ actions communicated a paternalism, reducing, belittling, infantilising the female athletes. Despite the majesty displayed by the Spanish team, through Rubiales’ act they were placed in a position of passivity against a more powerful and important male authority. In assuming the physical position of dominance, he implied a relative authority, and, in part, he claimed authorship for their victory. Then, there is where this event sits within the symbolic fight that women have fought to be considered something more than their appearance, more than objects of male desire. In defence of this, Rubiales stated that he kissed Hermoso ‘as he would his children’. In saying this, wholly unconvincing in masking the sexual nature of his act, Rubiales directed us towards another reality. The Spanish team, and with it female athletes generally, with each highly physical embrace, were infantilised. The symbolism of this act within the popular imagination is the following; women sport is fundamentally junior to male sport. This speaks to the broader manifestation of sexism in our society, in which women are understood as infantile in comparison to the maturity of senior paternal figures.