The most discussed moment in women’s soccer last year was not a goal, skill, or anything that happened during a match. It was an unwanted kiss by then-Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales to one of the game’s biggest stars, Jennifer Hermoso, during the 2023 Women’s World Cup final celebration. For many viewers, it was a shocking glimpse into the life of a women’s soccer player. For those familiar with the turmoil and controversy underlying Spanish soccer, it was a flashpoint.
Joanna Pardo, the director of a new Netflix documentary, “It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Soccer,” instantly saw the bigger picture. Despite witnessing Spain win its first Women’s World Cup title, Pardo was acutely aware that this was a team in crisis, a group of players who had long rallied against perceived sexism and inequality within the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF).
The fallout from the Rubiales kiss only intensified her belief that this story deserved a wider audience and it was time to tell it. “The soccer players, for the first time, felt the social support to dare to speak,” Pardo told CNN Sport, adding that Rubiales’ actions after the kiss compelled her to shoot the documentary. He “laid it out for us on a silver platter,” she explained.
Rubiales, who was serving as president of the RFEF at the time, later described the kiss as “mutual.” Hermoso denied this claim, stating that she was not respected. In the days following the incident, Rubiales staunchly defended his actions, refusing to resign while denouncing “fake feminism” and an “unjust” campaign against him.
As pressure mounted and FIFA suspended him provisionally, Rubiales resigned from his position in September, explaining how “the powers that be will prevent my return.” Rifts existed within the team long before Rudalenés kiss.
In September 2022, 15 players announced they would not play for the Spanish national team while Jorge Vilda, a loyal ally of Rubiales and then-manager, remained in charge. Vilda called the situation an international embarrassment. Some players returned for the World Cup, but deep-rooted problems in Spanish soccer triggered outrage worldwide after Rubiales’ kiss.
The new Netflix documentary, “It’s All Over,” carefully dissects these problems through comprehensive interviews with top women’s players, including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, Irene Paredes, and Hermoso herself. It focuses on how the World Cup winners united after the Rubiales incident, refusing to represent the national team and calling for “real structural changes” within the federation, which led to government intervention.
According to Pardo, the players’ testimonies in the documentary were fueled by “the indignation, the rage, and also the joy and pride of what they had achieved.”
She added: “The scandal in the final was the last straw in a glass of indignation that had been filling up for years. But of course, the magnitude of the events and them occurring at the moment of the greatest success an athlete can have, like winning a World Cup, unleashed the players’ fury.
The kiss wasn’t just a peck; it was a demonstration of superiority by someone who believes they are master and lord and wants to show the world they are right.”
The documentary reveals new details about the behavior of Rubiales and Vilda. Vilda is described by the players as controlling overbearing presence who checked what they ate, who they spent time with, and even entered their hotel rooms in the evening for “conversations.”
Former national team goalkeeper Sandra Paños states: “He used to come into our room when we were lying in bed, It was a really uncomfortable situation.”
Before the World Cup semifinal against Sweden, Rubiales gives an awkward speech to the players, asking “Who has more ovaries, us or them?” Bonmatí said his words went “in one ear and out the other.”
Video footage shows players joking about Rubiales’ kiss with Hermoso after the final, but veteran defender Paredes intervenes, urging them to stop. “This is serious,” she says. “He kissed her because he feels superior to her.” As for Hermoso, her fear and trauma after the incident are revealed through conversations with Paredes and Putellas.
She faced abuse on social media, was afraid to leave the house, and was “petrified” watching Rubiales refuse to resign. Putellas explains Hermoso’s dilemma: “It’s difficult to react in that moment and say, ‘Stop,’ because, first, he’s your boss, and second, because you’re in a very strong moment emotionally.”
Towards the documentary’s end, we hear how the federation tried “every single way” to protect Rubiales after the kiss, according to Paredes. They controlled media statements and urged players to defend the now disgraced former president. Bonmatí says she was told to
“reduce the tension” and “act as if nothing happened” in interviews.
CNN asked RFEF and Rubiales’ legal representative for comment on the documentary but received no response. Vilda is scheduled to stand trial alongside Rubiales in February, accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
His lawyer, Luis Jordana de Pozas, told CNN that neither Vilda nor his entourage will comment on the events surrounding last year’s World Cup, including the documentary, until after the trial.
All the player interviews filmed for the documentary were lengthy and in-depth. Pardo believes the players’ willingness to speak candidly makes “It’s All Over” compelling viewing. “The players had endured years of forced silence,”
The idea that speaking out or questioning would affect their sports careers had been ingrained in their minds. Breaking the mantra of fear was not easy.”
In Pardo’s view, the players felt relief after filming. Closure is a strong theme in “It’s All Over,” which ends with Hermoso repeating, for the final time, “It’s all over.”
What are the specific demands of the Spanish women’s soccer team for the future of the sport?
## A Kiss That Changed Everything: A Look Inside Netflix’s “It’s All Over”
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Joanna Pardo, director of the new Netflix documentary “It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Soccer,” about her powerful film exploring the crisis within Spanish women’s soccer.
Joanna, thank you for joining us. Your documentary arrives at a pivotal moment, following the controversy surrounding Luis Rubiales’ kiss of Jennifer Hermoso, an incident that sent shockwaves through the world.
**What inspired you to make this documentary?**
**Joanna:** As the events unfolded, I was struck by the stark contrast between the triumphant victory of Spain’s first Women’s World Cup title and the deep-seated crisis within the federation. The Rubiales incident, while shocking, was a symptom of a much larger problem – a pervasive culture of sexism and inequality that the players had been fighting against for years. The social support that the players finally received in the wake of the kiss fueled my conviction that this story needed to be told.
**The documentary features interviews with top players who bravely speak out against Rubiales and former head coach Jorge Vilda. What were some of the most powerful testimonies you encountered?**
**Joanna:** The players’ voices speak volumes about the years of indignities they endured. Irene Paredes’ sober intervention, urging her teammates to stop joking about the kiss because it was “serious,” was incredibly moving. Sandra Paños’ descriptions of Vilda entering players’ rooms late at night for “conversations” paint a disturbing picture of his controlling behaviour. Their testimonies are a powerful indictment of the federation’s toxic environment.
**Your documentary doesn’t shy away from revealing the players’ own conflicts and internal struggles. Can you speak to the complexities within this team?**
**Joanna:** Absolutely. The players’ united front against Rubiales was a powerful moment, but it’s important to recognize that reaching that point was a long and difficult journey. They wrestled with public scrutiny, internal disagreements, and the fear of jeopardizing their careers. Their collective courage and resilience are truly inspiring.
**The fallout from Rubiales’ kiss led to significant upheaval within Spanish soccer, including his resignation. What do you see as the lasting impact of this story?**
**Joanna:** I believe this incident sparked a global reckoning. It highlighted the dangers of unchecked power and the urgent need for systemic change in women’s sports. The players’ actions demanded accountability and paved the way for greater transparency and respect within the federation.
**Joanna, thank you for sharing your insights and for bringing this important story to light.**
**Joanna:** Thank you for having me.