The Spanish women's team refused to compete
Three weeks ago, 81 players - including all 23 members of the Spanish squad that won the 2023 World Cup - announced that they would not join forces if called up, if Luis Rubiales remained president of the country's Football Federation (RFEF). .
On September 10, under pressure from public opinion, Rubiales agreed to leave his seat. However, 39 players - including 21 World Cup champions - signed a joint letter sent to the RFEF on September 15 that that was not enough for them to return to duty for the national team. These players emphasized that they are not "in a safe position" to play for the team, because RFEF has many problems, not just Rubiales.
According to AS, the female players have sent a petition demanding that a number of other RFEF leaders be removed from their positions because of their behavior in the Rubiales case, and at the same time want the Federation to commit to strongly handling similar cases in the future. future and soon re-elect the new leadership. And under public pressure, REFE is carrying out the necessary procedures to dismiss Secretary General Andreu Camps, Legal Advisor and effective assistant of Rubiales, Tomas Tomás González Cueto, Head of Integrity Department Miguel Garcia Caba...
On September 18, Montse Tome - the newly appointed coach to replace Jorge Vilda - announced the call-up list of 23 players, including 20 of the 39 players who signed the letter sent to RFEF last weekend. According to the schedule, the defending World Cup champion will play two women's Nations League matches at Sweden's Gamla Ullevi Stadium on September 22, then return to Nuevo Arcangel's home stadium to host Switzerland on September 26.
Later, in a joint statement posted on social networks, these players expressed surprise at being called up even though they affirmed that they would not play for Spain until their request for change was approved by the RFEF. response. This group of players said they will study the legal consequences that RFEF caused when they requested not to be summoned for reasons that were publicly and detailedly explained in the letter sent last weekend. , and make the best decisions for their future and health.
However, there are still many Spanish players joining forces in Madrid as scheduled on September 19, including Misa Rodriguez, Olga Carmona and Teresa Abelleira - the three players who signed the letter sent to RFEF last weekend - and Athenea del Castillo. When asked if the players agreed with Tome's call-up list, goalkeeper Rodriguez replied: "No".
The players' statement came just hours after Tome said at the press conference announcing the Spain squad that she had been in touch and made arrangements to address the players' concerns. "The federation has worked to be able to talk to the players. Me too," said the new head coach of the Spanish women's team. "We have listened to them, we are all part of the team and the best way is to have good communication."
Tome also confirmed that no player told her that they did not want to be called up to play in the next two matches of the Nations League. The 41-year-old coach also explained that removing Jenni Hermoso from the Spanish team was to protect her - a statement that was later responded to by the 33-year-old world champion.
According to Spanish sports law, athletes must comply with the national team's call-up, unless there are circumstances that prevent them from competing, such as injury. If players refuse to join forces without a valid reason, they will face sanctions including fines of up to 30,000 euros ($32,000) and suspension of their federation license for 2 to 15 years. .
Victor Francos, president of Spain's supreme sports council (CSD), hopes that does not happen and wants to act as an intermediary between the players and the RFEF. "If the players don't join forces, the government will do what they have to do, which is apply the law," he said. "It's unfortunate, but the rules are the rules, and I will talk to the players and still hope there can be a solution."
Miquel Iceta, Spain's Minister of Culture and Sports, emphasized that it was unthinkable that the players would be sanctioned and called on the RFEF to make the necessary changes.
The noise arose when Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after the Women's World Cup final in Sydney on August 20. The former RFEF President said that Hermoso agreed to the kiss, but the female player denied it many times. Last week, prosecutors charged Rubiales with sexual assault and coercion. According to Hermoso, Rubiales pressured her to speak up to defend him right after the scandal broke out.
