Spanish Football Federation Penalized for Lack of Harassment Measures at FIFA Women’s World Cup – Sky Bulletin
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In recent developments, the labor ministry of Spain has levied fines against the Spanish soccer federation, including the renowned Barcelona football club, for not adhering to gender equality workplace regulations.
An announcement on Wednesday disclosed that the federation, Barcelona, and two clubs from the second division did not comply with the mandate that requires workplaces with a minimum of 50 employees to implement “equality plans.” The Spanish labor ministry stated this information in a communication.
The ministry triggered an examination of soccer clubs with female teams and the national federation post an international controversy involving the former federation president, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup trophy ceremony. The ex-president is currently awaiting trial on sexual assault charges.
An absence of a formal protocol to address sexual harassment cases, as mandated by law, was discovered at the federation during the incident.
According to Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz in an interview with Spain’s National Radio, the situation was dire as they sent their world champion athletes to the World Cup without an equality plan and harassment protocols in place. She emphasized that the issuance of fines represents a strong indication that such oversights must be rectified and sexism has no role in the sports domain.
Subsequent to the World Cup, Spanish players abandoned their national team duties for a month until the federation committed to revamping its management of the women’s team.
Although the exact amount of the imposed fines remains undisclosed, it is known that the maximum penalty for neglecting an equality plan or a sexual harassment protocol stands at 7,500 euros (around $8,100) for each infraction.
Out of the total 16 clubs inspected, it was discovered that Barcelona and two second-division Catalan clubs, Espanyol and Europa, were operating without adequate equality plans. Nevertheless, these entities had sexual harassment protocols established.
Barcelona, in their defense, expressed that any claims questioning their long-standing dedication to gender equality policies are unfounded. They contended that since 2013 an equality plan had been active and that they were in the process of updating it when the inspection occurred.
It’s noteworthy that Barcelona’s women’s team, the previous season’s Champions League victors, contributed significantly to Spain’s World Cup squad with players of the caliber of Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, both Ballon d’Or recipients.
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FAQ Section
Why were the Spanish soccer federation and FC Barcelona fined?
They were penalized for failing to implement respective “equality plans” and also for not having a working sexual harassment protocol in place, which is a legal requirement for workplaces with more than 50 employees.
What prompted the Spanish labor ministry to initiate an inspection?
The inspection was prompted by an incident at the Women’s World Cup where the former president of the Spanish soccer federation kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the trophy presentation, which led to an international uproar and subsequent sexual assault charges against him.
Did other clubs face similar fines?
Yes, along with the Spanish soccer federation and Barcelona, two second-division Catalan clubs, Espanyol and Europa, were also found to lack proper equality plans, although they did have sexual harassment protocols in place.
What was FC Barcelona’s response to the fines?
Barcelona rejected any insinuations of neglecting gender equality policies. They insisted that an equality plan has been active since 2013 and was being updated during the ministry’s inspection.
What is the maximum fine for not having an equality plan or sexual harassment protocol?
The maximum fine for each of these violations is 7,500 euros (approximately $8,100).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fines imposed on the Spanish soccer federation and FC Barcelona echo a clear message from Spain’s labor ministry that gender equality and sexual harassment protocols are not only legal obligations but fundamental aspects of an honorable and ethical sports environment. This move demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the safety and equal treatment of female athletes and reiterates the non-negotiable nature of such policies in professional sports organizations.
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