July 17, (THEWILL) – Spain’s women’s national football team captain, Ivana Andres, issued an apology on Monday, following the surfacing of a video in which her teammates were seen laughing while attempting a Haka, causing outrage in New Zealand, just days before the Women’s World Cup.
The players faced accusations of disrespecting Maori culture, prompting Andres to seek forgiveness from the local Rangitane tribe during a traditional ceremony held to welcome the teams. Speaking in Spanish, Andres expressed her remorse and stated that there was still much to learn about the local culture.
“We’ve only been a few days in Aotearoa New Zealand and there’s still much to learn about this culture,” said Andres, as local media provided a translation. The Real Madrid centre-back asked for forgiveness for their mistakes and expressed the team’s commitment to improve each day. As a gesture of goodwill, she presented the tribe with a Spain jersey during the ceremony.
In response to Andres’ apology, a spokesperson for the Rangitane tribe stated that the outcome of the ceremony was positive. “Their words came from the heart, and there was an acknowledgement that they understood the haka is very precious, not only to Maori, but to all of Aotearoa,” the spokesperson said.
The incident has shed light on the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect, as the Spanish team prepares to compete in Group C matches in New Zealand. They are set to kick off their campaign on Friday, against Costa Rica in Wellington, followed by matches against Zambia and Japan.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
