Spain Accidentally Honors Ivana Icardi Instead of Women’s World Cup Winning Captain Ivana Andres
In a regrettable mix-up, the Spanish Government mistakenly conferred the Royal Order of Sports Merit upon celebrity Ivana Icardi, the sister of Argentine footballer Mauro Icardi. This honor was intended for Ivana Andres, the captain of the Women’s World Cup-winning team. The Spain National Sports Council (CSS) confirmed this error, issuing an official apology for the unfortunate “human error.”
The blunder came to light when the incorrect announcement was published in Tuesday’s edition of Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE). CSS expressed deep regret for the confusion and promptly corrected the mistake in the following day’s edition, ensuring that the right Ivana was rightfully recognized. Ivana Andres played a pivotal role in leading Spain to victory in their first Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last month.
Ivana Icardi, an Argentine celebrity residing in Mallorca who has appeared in numerous Spanish reality television programs, expressed her bewilderment on social media. She shared a screenshot of the BOE’s page featuring her name and commented, “This really happened! How could they possibly get something like this wrong?”
Real Madrid defender Ivana Andres responded to the news by humorously sharing a viral meme featuring Spider-Man pointing at another Spider-Man, highlighting the mix-up.
However, Ivana’s case was not the only instance of inaccuracies among the list of honorees. Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder who was the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup and UEFA Player of the Year, also had her name misspelled in Tuesday’s edition of BOE.
This blunder adds to the recent controversies surrounding Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales. He faced criticism for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the World Cup final in Sydney on August 20. Additionally, he garnered attention for inappropriate behavior, including grabbing his crotch in proximity to Spain’s Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter.
Amidst the turmoil, coach Jorge Vilda, one of Rubiales’ close allies, was dismissed from his position on Tuesday, just 10 days after FIFA suspended Rubiales for his behavior that sparked outrage both in Spain and abroad.
The mix-up in honoring Ivana Icardi instead of Ivana Andres serves as a notable blunder in a series of controversies plaguing Spanish football.
The Spanish Government has found itself in an embarrassing situation after mistakenly honoring the wrong person for a prestigious sports award. Here’s the reorganized version of the article: