BBC called out for 'offending bald men' after using clip of Pablo Zabaleta in Luis Rubiales report
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The BBC accidentally broadcast footage of former Manchester City footballer Pablo Zabaleta during a piece on Luis Rubiales.
The Spanish FA president is facing an overwhelming torrent of calls to resign after kissing Jenni Hermoso following Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup Final.
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Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and there are strong calls for Rubiales to resign, though he has insisted that he will 'fight this until the end'.
While many have turned against him and are calling for his exit his mum has taken the dramatic step of locking herself in a church and going on hunger strike, demanding that Hermoso 'tell the truth'.
The Spanish FA has also accused Hermoso of 'lying' about the kiss while she has been clear that she did not enjoy the kiss nor consent to it.
And in the BBC's recent coverage of the storm of controversy surrounding Rubiales, they accidentally broadcast a snippet of footage featuring felling bald football figure Pablo Zabaleta.
The error was noticed by many on social media, including comedian Omid Djalili, who said they should 'make a correction immediately' and joked that 'as a bald man, I am offended'.
The comedian went on to ask why they 'didn't include footage of me or Stanley Tucci' but it seems as though the broadcaster has been alerted to their mistake and since corrected the error.
In a statement, the BBC said: "A production error meant we showed the wrong image in an earlier broadcast. This has now been rectified."
Several responding to Djalili's post on the social media site formerly known as Twitter wondered how such an error had been made since they were both bald but were very different people.
A 'sexual assault' investigation has been launched into Rubiales, who used a press conference where he had been expected to resign to announce that he had no intention of going.
Prosecutors say they have begun a 'preliminary investigation' into the Spanish FA president
Hermoso gave a statement on the kiss from Rubiales, saying: "I felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression, an impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any type of consent from my part. In short, I wasn’t respected."
Maria Dolores Martinez Madrona, the protection delegate for the Royal Spanish Football Federation also made a statement: "Our protocol is currently activated and in the midst of investigating the events, thus we demand the utmost respect for the right to privacy and dignity of all individuals involved.
"As the protection delegate for sexual violence, my duty is to adhere to the protocol and safeguard the privacy of those affected by this incident and of the Sexual Violence Advisory Committee."
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