2023-09-20 09:17:32
“A series of agreements”. The majority of Spanish internationals, on strike since the Rubiales affair, have agreed to rejoin the selection to face Sweden and Switzerland in the League of Nations, following an agreement with the Federation and the government.
“We have reached a series of agreements that will be drawn up and signed tomorrow by the Federation and the Higher Sports Council,” Secretary of State for Sports Victor Francos told the press on Wednesday. He specified that only two of the 23 players summoned had expressed the wish to leave. He did not reveal the names of the two players concerned, but stressed that they would not be subject to sanctions.
After the meeting between the CSD, the players and the Federation, Víctor Francos appears at 4:43 a.m. and announces that 21 of the 23 players will play in the Nations League.
“There are TWO players who have requested the possibility of abandoning” and “there will be no sanction.”pic.twitter.com/mXL1iDQS5z
— Maria Tikas (@MariaTikas) September 20, 2023
“The players told us of their concern about the need to make profound changes within the RFEF and the federation promised that these changes would take place immediately,” Victor Francos said on Wednesday. According to the Spanish press, one of these immediate changes could be the departure of Secretary General Andreu Camps.
He 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.”
Strong tensions with the Federation
This announcement comes after strong tensions between the striking players and the federation. They demand profound structural changes within the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), considering the resignation of its president Luis Rubiales following his forced kiss imposed on Jenni Hermoso, and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized, as insufficient. .
The coach Montse Tomé created a surprise on Monday by announcing a list of fifteen world champions and other players, who had asked not to be selected pending a total overhaul of the Federation, but not Jenni Hermoso.
This summons was seen as an obligation by the players, under penalty of sanction if they refused. Spain’s 2022 sports law states that failing to attend national team call-ups constitutes a “very serious” offense. Potential fines range from 3,000 to 30,000 euros, and players can even lose their license for up to five years.
“Come and we commit to making what you ask possible,” Victor Francos later declared on Spanish public television, adding that “if a player does not feel comfortable (…) the most normal thing is that she is not summoned and that another is”, excluding the possibility of a sanction.
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