Most of Spain’s World Cup-winning players refuse to play in future games amid fallout from unwanted kiss

CNN
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The majority of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad has said it will refuse to be called up for the country’s two upcoming Women’s Nations League matches as it continues to push for “real structural changes” in Spanish soccerafter a fallout from a former soccer boss Luis Rubiales‘ didn’t want a kiss La Roja star Jennifer Hermoso.

For almost a month, Spain was rocked by the incident between the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Rubiales and Hermoso, which overshadowed the team’s historic victory.

Spain was due to announce a squad for its next two matches on Friday but has now postponed the decision after 39 players, including 21 of the 23-woman World Cup squad, signed a joint letter condemning of RFEF.

“From now on, as we have announced at the RFEF, the changes that have been made are not enough for the players to feel in a safe place, where women are respected, women’s football is supported and where we can provide the everything,” the letter said, that is posted via two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Alexia Putellas on X, formerly Twitter.

“We want to end this statement declaring that the players of the Spanish women’s national team are professional players, and what fills us the most with pride is wearing the shirt of the national team and always took our country to the highest places.

“Because of that, we believe that this is the moment to fight to show that these situations and practices have no place in our football or in our society, that the current structure must be changed and we are doing it to the next generations will have more equal football and one at the level we all deserve.

In the letter, the players outlined several changes they would like to see within the Spanish federation, including the reform of the women’s football organization, the office of the presidency and secretary general, the communication departments and marketing, and integrity department.

“As previously stated, we break down in a detailed way the changes requested so that these types of behaviors do not happen again and with the intention of having full transparency,” added the letter.

The world players’ union FIFPRO posted by X in support of the players’ decision saying, “FIFPRO fully supports the Spain Women’s National Team in their joint call for change. #SeAcabó (It’s over).”

Two-time NBA champion and Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol also added his voice to the players, posting: “You have all my support.”

The latest development comes after more than 80 Spanish soccer players – including all of Spain’s 2023 World Cup squad – put their name to a letter in support of Hermoso on August 25, which originally said that they will not return to the national team “if the current leaders continue.” in their posts and if there are no “real structural changes” in the federation.

As a result, RFEF interim president Pedro Rocha began taking steps as part of his “renewal” of the federation, firing controversial coach Jorge Vilda despite an unprecedented victory in Spain at the World Cup and appointed his deputy, Montse Tomé – the first woman to take over the role. Rocha then promised in a meeting with the president of the High Council of Sport, Víctor Francos, to make further “structural changes” in the RFEF.

The announcement from the players should leave Tomé struggling to field a competitive team against Sweden and Switzerland on September 22 and 26.

The development occurred after Rubiales testified in Spain’s National Court in Madrid on Friday morning after being summoned by the presiding judge to assist in the court’s investigation into possible charges of sexual assault and coercion against him.

Rubiales resigned from his position on Sunday after weeks of pressure from all parts of Spanish society and has now been given a restraining order and told not to go within 200 meters of Hermoso.

The discontent felt by Spanish players began in September last year, when 15 members of the senior women’s squad sent personally signed letters to the RFEF via email to announce that they would no longer be playing. for the national team unless there are wholesale changes made by the entire coaching staff. .

The same letters say that “the situation” within the Spanish national team – of which the RFEF is “aware” – is affecting the players’ “emotional state” and health.

Of the 15 players who signed the letters, only three are in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle.

Despite off-field struggles, a young Spanish side made a magical World Cup run to defy the odds and claim a memorable title in Australia and New Zealand.

However, the success on the pitch continues to be accompanied by a tense atmosphere in the squad and the long-standing animosity between some of the country’s best players, Vilda’s technical staff and RFEF.

After the team’s victories over the Netherlands and Sweden in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the World Cup, videos went viral on social media of what appeared to be cold reactions from some of Spain’s substitute players to Vilda and the his staff, as well as post-match. celebrations.

A clip showed Vilda trying to celebrate with some players after the win over the Netherlands, but was seemingly ignored.

Now that Vilda and Rubiales have left their positions, the RFEF hopes to start a new chapter in women’s soccer, but Friday’s news shows there is still a lot of work to do.