“Our fight is a global fight…”: the new strong message from the Spanish world champions

2023-09-23 02:24:17

This September 22, a month after their title of world champion, the Spanish footballers returned to the field by playing a Nations League match against Sweden in Gothenburg. Before kickoff, the two united teams posed together behind a barrier reading “#SeAcabo.” Our fight is a global fight.”

SeAcabo means “it’s over” in Spanish. Obviously referring to the forced kiss of the former president of the Spanish federation Luis Rubiales to Jenni Hermoso on the podium of the World Cup in Australia. Spanish players, but no longer just them, are now engaged in a fight against all forms of physical and sexual violence in women’s football.

Before this match in Sweden, La Roja had practically no training since the new Spanish coach, Montse Tomé, surprised everyone on Monday by calling up a majority of players who had declared themselves ineligible. Most of the 23 players called up, including world champions like Alexia Putellas, had signed a declaration of ineligibility until changes took place within the Spanish Federation (RFEF).

These changes are slow in their eyes even if this Friday, Miguel García Caba left his position as director of the “integrity” department of the Iberian federation. Supporting Rubiales, he headed the “integrity” sector, for which the players had requested restructuring.

On Wednesday, the secretary general of the federation Andreu Camps, a close friend of Rubiales, whose players demanded the departure was also dismissed “We are happy because it is true that changes are underway and in this context, we fully support our teammates,” said international Mapi León. Two internationals nevertheless left the gathering on Wednesday.

Through this League of Nations, the Spanish women are playing their first qualification for the Olympic Games. The two finalists of the tournament will qualify for Paris 2024. If France, already qualified as an organizing country, is a finalist, the ticket will go to the selection which wins the match for third place.

This Friday, Spain won 3-2 in Sweden.