So we all have a bit of a giggle about Spain and its appalling standards of equalitiness because it’s fun to take the piss. Particularly as not many speak English properly so they’re not aware of all the insults and derisory comments being levelled at them. Si?

And then on Friday I happened to be speaking to a professor of Spanish History at Kings College and he told me interesting things, even though he wasn’t a football fan at all. Amazing that people who know so little about football can be seemingly quite knowledgable about other things. But he basically said that most of Spain’s ‘problems’ (ie of a social, societal nature) stem from the fact that they’ve never really gotten over Franco. Who died in 1975. But Franco was a dictator. The sort of person who generally occupies the right-hand end of the political spectrum. Not far along that spectrum from all those stupid American women who want to vote for Trump; the misogynist’s rapist. Because those on the far right like women ‘to know their place’. And it would appear that many of those who know it are the women. So whether this right winginess comes from the religious spectrum; the Taliban, Orthodox Jews, Hindus and certainly Christians, or from the political one, like Franco, they share an adherence to a particularly antiquated mindset about the roles of the genders. Of which, for their purposes, there only two.

And Spain suffered the horrible dictator from 1939 until his death 36 years later. And you don’t last that long because everyone hates you. He was supported by at least half of the population, who helped him overthrow the ‘republican’ government at the time. So there’s a lot of people in Spain reared with quite hard right wing attitudes. And from such a gender-polarised starting point comes sexism, misogyny and all the wonderful things which accompany them. Like feeling free to grab hold of the nearest woman and kiss her face.

I’m not saying that Luis Rubiales is a right-wing misogynist, nor that ‘society is to blame’ for his actions. I’m not even saying that half the world’s problems stem from adherence to extremist political or religious views. It just sounds a bit like I am.

Tottenham Hotspur have no fascist sympathies. But have moved on from being managed by the spawn of Italian and Portuguese dictator-lovers to now having a true republican Aussie freedom fighter at their helm. A man so dedicated to that freedom that he gives the players virtual autonomy on the pitch with just a few basic tactical rules to which they should adhere. Where possible. Only if they feel like it. And it’s working wonders. We’re playing more beautifully than any other team, possibly EVER!!! We’re winning games, scoring at will and are currently second in the league. Second, obviously, to Manchester City, but we’re a nice team. And they are managed… by… a SPANIARD!!!

Happy Sunday

A xxxx