Soccer Football - Spanish Labour Minister meets representatives of the women's players' union FUTPRO - Madrid, Spain - August 28, 2023 Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz during a press conference after the meeting REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Monday male chauvinism was "systemic" in the country and had been shown in its worst form when national soccer chief Luis Rubiales grabbed and kissed World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips last week.
Diaz, who is also deputy prime minister and head of the far-left Sumar coalition, called for social attitudes to change more generally in Spain and for victims of sexual harassment and violence to be better protected.
read moreDiaz told reporters following a meeting with leaders of the FUTPRO players' union representing Hermoso: "On Friday we saw the worst of Spanish society, of the structural machismo of this country.
She insisted, however, that Spanish society was predominantly "feminist" and "an example in the world".
Reporting by David Latona, writing by Aislinn Laing, Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Yolanda Diaz, Isabel Infantes, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Diaz, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Angus MacSwan
Organizations:
Soccer Football, Spanish Labour, Labour, Rights, Spain's Labour, Sumar, Thomson
Locations:
Madrid, Spain