A pivotal and problematic moment in sport, specifically women's football, will be explored in an upcoming Netflix documentary. Spain's World Cup kissing scandal rocked the world – sparked by an allegedly non-consensual kiss by a former FIFA boss towards a winning player, which caused widespread uproar and an eventual activist movement.
Executive producers Javier Martínez and Luis Miguel Calvo have described the documentary as a "chronicle of resilience, passion, and triumph in the face of adversity, marking a milestone in the fight for equality in sports and society".
“This is the story of how a group of exceptional women not only transformed the sport they love but also challenged and changed social perceptions and structures, inspiring future generations to fight for equality and recognition,” they have said in a statement.
Here's everything you need to know about the scandal and the upcoming documentary, which will hear some players speak out for the first time.
What was Spain's World Cup kissing scandal?
After Spain beat England in the World Cup final, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Association Luis Rubiales was inappropriately affectionate to players while handing out medals to the winners. Outrage bubbled over, though, when he kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without, she says, her consent.
Hermoso quickly described Rubiales' actions as “unwanted and unappreciated” in a post-match livestream, leading to the former football boss embarking on a media tour where he denied the kiss was non-consensual and refused to resign our take accountability for his actions. His mother even threatened to go on hunger strike because of it.
Eventually, he stepped down as president of Spain’s soccer federation and as vice president of the Union of European Football Associations’ executive committee, claiming to be a victim of “social assassination”. “After being suspended by FIFA, and the other proceedings against me, it’s evident I can’t return to the position,” he said in a statement. He was then given a three-year ban from the sport by FIFA last October.
What is It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football documentary about?
The documentary will give the players the space to tell their story around the scandal, and how it marked such a huge moment in women's sports outside of their World Cup win. We will also see how a viral social media movement unfolded through the hashtag #SeAcabó, which translates to “it's over” in English. The movement started with a statement from Alexia Putellas, who announced herself and other players wouldn't return to the national team without a change in leadership. This led to a huge public conversation about abuse and bullying.
The #SeAcabó hashtag went on to be used by athletes around the world, even the UN and the Spanish government – the Seville men’s football team even sewed it onto their shirts.
The documentary will include interviews with Hermoso as well as her team mates Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Aitana Bonmatí, Olga Carmona, Teresa Abelleira, Ivana Andrés, Laia Codina, Sandra Paños and Lola Gallardo.
According to the documentary film’s director, Joanna Pardos, “the players recount the experiences they have lived over the past year from a place they’ve never spoken from before.
“It’s the first time they’re discussing this for many of them,” she has said. "It’s a privilege to have such personal testimonies of a milestone that has marked a before and after in the sports and social history of our country.”
It has been described as "a story about unity and friendship, a reflection on the concept of a team and its significance beyond personal goals”.
“Through an emotional journey that begins in 2022, this documentary explores the extraordinary path the players took to win the most difficult Cup and lay the foundations for a new generation of football," the documentary's synopsis reads. "It is a testament to the struggles, efforts, and sacrifices behind this sporting feat, and a tribute to the women who are revolutionising the sport both on and off the field.”
It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football release date
The documentary will drop on Netflix on 1 November.
It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football trailer
A non-subtitled trailer from Netflix Spain has dropped, which you can watch below. The full documentary will drop globally, and be subtitled for English-speaking audiences.
