It should have been off sight
Shaadaab S. Bakht
Shaadaab S. Bakht, who worked for famous Indian dailies The Telegraph, The Pioneer, The Sentinel and wrote political commentaries for Tehelka.com, is Gulf Today’s Executive Editor.
- 31 Aug 2023
A famous soccer personality is in deep trouble after his kiss was declared offside. It was an innocent expression of joy, he insists. Landing on a set of bare lips with a deep and wholesome impact couldn’t have been simply an innocent expression of joy, bystanders feel. If he had thought he would get away with it, he was being dangerously careless. He indeed was, now we know.
The bystanders feel the gentleman wanted to take advantage of the triumphant Spanish mood. In other words, he wanted to exploit the prevailing situation to satiate carnal longings. Yes, we are talking about the Spanish football federation chief, Luis Rubiales.
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for three months on August 26 as it investigates allegations he gave a player (Jenni Hermoso) an unwanted kiss on the lips after Spain’s women won the World Cup.
The portfolios they hold are always restrictive in nature.
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales over the incident with Jenni Hermoso on August 20 in Sydney that has caused an uproar among players and fans. Rubiales’ suspension from national and international activities takes immediate effect, it said on Saturday. Rubiales said he would use the probe to show his innocence. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a statement for him, saying Rubiales “will defend himself legally in the competent bodies, has full confidence in the FIFA bodies and reiterates that, in this way, he is being given the opportunity to begin his defence so that the truth prevails and his complete innocence is proven”.
Jorge Vilda, the coach of the Spanish Women’s soccer team, said that he regretted the “inappropriate behaviour” of Rubiales. Victor Francos, head of Spain’s state-run National Sports Council, said the government supported FIFA’s decision. Rubiales, 46, has been defiant over the kiss — which has been condemned as unwanted by Hermoso, her teammates and the Spanish government — arguing it was consensual.
In my humble opinion, the kiss that has launched a million words, leaves several lessons. First, the demands of high offices are painfully high. Those holding them can’t afford to behave like participants of a college festival. The portfolios they hold are always restrictive in nature. Secondly, it is absolutely normal for people to feel passionately about people, but one can’t live that out in public. It has to be off people’s sight.
Lastly, those in positions of strength naturally trigger the birth of opposition, which is waiting to pounce at the slightest of faults. The above official would have done well to remember that.
Well, the European giants would have had all the time in the world to celebrate the extremely prestigious victory, if the so-called offender had kept himself not miles, but just inches away from his present place of landing. Because he didn’t do that everybody is talking about the kiss and not the kick that brought the world to Spain’s feet.
