fifteen internationals withdraw from the selection

BarcelonaFifteen players from the Spanish women’s national team have informed the Spanish Football Federation that they are resigning from being part of the national international team. “The Royal Spanish Football Federation announces that, throughout the day, it has received 15 emails from 15 players of the absolute women’s football team, coincidentally all with the same wording, in which they state that the current situation generated affects them “significantly” in their “emotional state” and in their “health” and that, “until it is reversed”, they renounce the selection”, says the statement of the Federation. The disagreement of the footballers with the methods of the state coach, Jorge Vilda, has led to this decision.

The soccer players who have resigned are Sandra Paños, Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa ​​Vicente, Andrea Pereira, Laia Aleixandri, Mapi León, Leila Ouahabi, Ona Batlle, Patri Guijarro, Lucía García, Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí, Claudia Pina, Nerea Eizagirre and Amaiur Sarriegi , according to ARA. All the Blaugranas have decided to leave the selection except Irene Paredes, who is also the captain of the national team.

“The RFEF will not allow the players to question the continuity of the coach and his coaching staff, because taking these decisions does not fall within their powers. The Federation will not accept any kind of pressure from any player when taking measures of the sports field. These types of maneuvers are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport and are harmful,” adds the text, which reaffirms Vilda as coach of the state team. “According to the Spanish legislation in force, not attending a call from the national team is classified as a very serious offense and may involve sanctions of between two and five years of disqualification. The RFEF, contrary to the way act of these players, he wants to make it clear that he will not take them to this extreme or pressure them. Directly, he will not call up footballers who do not wish to wear the Spain shirt. The Federation will only have committed footballers even if they have to play with youth “, emphasizes the text.

“The national team needs players who are committed to the project, to the defense of our colors and proud to wear the Spain shirt. The footballers who have submitted their resignation will only return to the discipline of the national team in the future if they accept their mistake and they ask for forgiveness,” the statement concludes.