Spain unveiled its roster Monday for the women’s national team’s first two matches since the team’s World Cup victory — and a post-match kiss that plunged women’s soccer into chaos.
Many of the players chosen to play for Spain, however, made it clear that they did not want to take the field unless management changes were made by the soccer federation, and the announcement and the angry response from to many players highlights the uncertainty and lack of confidence that pervades the program.
Only eight of the World Cup winners remained on the roster Monday, including three injured, one retired — and Jennifer Hermoso, the star player who was forced to kiss the man who is soccer’s top executive. Spain at that time.
“Jenni and I are friends. We believe that this is the best way to protect her,” said the new coach, Montse Tomé, in a news conference of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, when he was asked why Ms. Hermoso will play in the UEFA Nations League, which is the qualification for European teams in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In a statement posted on social media on Monday night, the women’s players’ union, Futpro, insisted “our company wishes not to be named, for reasonable reasons.” The statement added: “We regret that our federation has put us in a situation that we did not want.”
And in the early hours of Tuesday, Ms. Hermoso made his own judgment on the roster with a damaging individual statement posted on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, with the title: “Protect me from what?”
Earlier this month, Ms. Hermoso filed a criminal complaint of sexual assault against former soccer chief, Luis Rubiales, after he kissed him during the World Cup medals ceremony in Sydney, Australia.
Last August, after the victory in the World Cup, the team, including the players named in the roster of Ms. Tomé on Monday, demanded changes in management and threatened not to play unless there were more changes.
Last Friday, Ms. Hermoso was one of 21 of the 23 members of the winning squad who signed a joint statement with other Spanish players saying “it’s time to fight” and reiterating their demands for a change in “leadership positions in the Royal Spanish. Football Federation” to guarantee a “safe place where women are respected.” But they did not clearly threaten not to play.
By Monday night, with their demands still unfulfilled, it was unclear whether the players on Ms. Tomé will agree to play or if they boycott the matches, against Sweden and Switzerland starting on Friday, in support of Ms. Beautiful.
If they decide not to play, they could face consequences, including fines or a temporary ban, according to the National Sports Council.
“I believe they are professional world champions and they love their profession,” said Ms. Tomé, adding that he has spoken with the players in the last few days.
AFE, the main Spanish players’ union, in a statementexpressed his “surprise at the lack of dialogue with the Royal Spanish Football Association regarding the majority position of the players who were summoned based on arguments that should be respected.”
Ms. Hermoso, in his statement on the X platform, criticized what he called the double standards of the federation for announcing that it was “safe for my colleagues to participate” while excluding him “as a way to protect me. “
Ivana Andrés, one of the captains of the World Cup team, said in a television interview on Monday night that, “The most important thing is that we want to play.”
However, said Ms. Andrés, who is currently injured and is no longer on the list, “we want them to respect us,” referring to the federation.
The president of Spain’s state-run National Sports Council, VÃctor Francos, also weighed in, saying on a late-night radio show on Monday night that “if the players don’t show up, it must be enforced the government’s the law,” in reference to the penalties the players could face. Mr. Francos added, “Tomorrow at 8:30 am, I will call some of the players and talk to them.”
Some Spaniards also expressed dismay at the list, including a prominent politician. “This is not a call-up. It’s a threat,” said Gabriel Rufián, a member of Parliament with a pro-Catalan independence party.
A Swiss player, Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic, who currently plays for the Spanish team Atlético de Madrid, also shared her disbelief on social media. “It’s crazy,” he said in a post on the X platform.
The players and the federation have a lot to lose if Ms. Tomé could not rally a team in time for Friday’s game in Sweden.
Sports commentator Guillem Balagué said Spain’s Olympic hopes would be in jeopardy if the players boycotted the match against Sweden, as only two teams from Europe – along with France, the host nation – will advance to the Olympics.
Last month, the federation took some steps to address the concerns of their star players. They urged Mr. Rubiales to resign, which he did.
Mr. Rubiales appeared in court last Friday in relation to allegations of sexual assault filed by Ms. Beautiful. A restraining order was subsequently issued against him, prohibiting contact with Ms. Beautiful. Jorge Vilda, the coach of the national team, was fired earlier this month. He was accused last year of sexually controlling team members.
On Monday morning, the federation said in a statement that it guarantees a “safe environment for the players” and is committed to making changes within the organization. But it did not specify the details of the changes it intends to make or a time frame.
Although replaced by Ms. Tomé G. Vilda, becoming the first woman to hold the highest job in Spain, her appointment was not without controversy.
Criticized Ms. Tomé when he participated in the standing ovation for Mr. Rubiales on August 25, after a defiant speech in which he accused Ms. Beautiful at the beginning of the kiss and railed against “false feminism.”
The statement issued by the players on Friday called for “zero tolerance” of federation members who “have, incite, hide or condone attitudes against the dignity of women.”
“I shouldn’t have done it,” said Ms. Tomé about his participation on Monday.