2023-09-19 14:53:22
On strike since the affair of the forced kiss against the player Jenni Hermoso after the final of the last world championship, the majority of the players of the Spanish team agreed to return to the selection after an agreement with the Federation and the Spanish government. This decision comes before a Nations League match that Spain is due to play against Sweden.
Published on: 09/19/2023 – 2:53 p.m. Modified on: 09/20/2023 – 08:13
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The majority of Spanish internationals, on strike since the Rubiales affair, agreed, Wednesday September 20, to rejoin the selection to face Sweden in the League of Nations, following an agreement with the Federation and the government.
“We have reached a series of agreements which will be drawn up and signed tomorrow by the Federation and the High Council of Sports,” declared Wednesday to the press, the Secretary of State for Sports, Victor Francos, after negotiations which continued until the early hours of the morning.
“Of the 23 players summoned, two requested the possibility of leaving the training camp for reasons (…) of personal discomfort,” added Victor Francos.
The government representative did not reveal the names of the two players concerned, but stressed that they would not be subject to sanctions, contrary to what had been previously announced.
“The players told us of their concern about the need to make profound changes within the RFEF (the Spanish Football Federation, Editor’s note) and the Federation promised that these changes would take place immediately,” declared Victor Francos Wednesday.
Six Spanish international footballers, five of whom had been on strike since the Rubiales affair, finally showed up on Tuesday at a first gathering of their selection in Madrid © Thomas Coex, AFP
Victor Francos said the agreement plans to develop Spanish law on “gender policies, progress in equal pay, in structures for sport and specifically for women’s football.”
According to the Spanish press, one of these immediate changes could be the departure of the general secretary of the RFEF, Andreu Camps.
“The government must enforce the law”
The new coach of Spain, Montse Tomé, created a surprise on Monday by summoning for the matches against Sweden and Switzerland around fifteen world champions and other players who had asked not to be selected until that there are profound changes within the football federation.
Following the scandal of the forced kiss of former president Luis Rubiales imposed on footballer Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup in Australia, these footballers considered that the resignation of Luis Rubiales and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda were insufficient.
Also read: In Spain, the forced kiss affair “showed the response of civil society”
On Tuesday, the Spanish internationals finally went to the women’s team meeting, while affirming that they did not want to play again until a total overhaul of their Federation took place.
FC Barcelona defender Mapi Leon, who has been denouncing the dysfunctions of Spanish women’s football for months but is not one of the strikers, felt she was forced to join the rally.
Under Spanish sports law, players who refused the call-up risked sanctions – fines of up to 30,000 euros, and suspension of their license for a period of up to five years.
The new coach of the Spanish women’s national team Montse Tomé, September 18, 2023 in Madrid © Thomas Coex, AFP
“If the players do not show up, the government must apply the law,” warned the president of the Superior Sports Council (CSD) Victor Francos on Cadena Ser radio.
“Intimidate and threaten”
Asked by a journalist if she was “happy” to be in the team, goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez replied “no”, confirming the fact that the strikers were returning against their will, due to potential sanctions.
Dismissed by Montse Tomé “to protect her”, Jenni Hermoso had accused the Spanish Federation of “intimidating and threatening” the world champions.
The latter received the support of their future adversaries. “If they feel that they have to boycott for something to happen, it is clear that we support them,” assured the Swedish international, Filippa Angeldahl.
“The RFEF has no right to deprive Spain of its women’s national team, especially after winning a World Cup,” declared the Spanish Minister of Culture and Sports on Tuesday, Miquel Iceta, demanding that the Spanish Federation be “a place of security, competitiveness and professionalism.”
Spain is due to face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland on September 26 in the Nations League, a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and plans to fly to Sweden on Thursday.
With AFP
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