several striking footballers finally present themselves for selection

2023-09-19 15:07:44

Five of the players on strike since the Rubiales affair finally showed up this Tuesday at their selection rally in Madrid.

Six Spanish international players, 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, after having reaffirmed on Monday that they did not wish to play again with La Roja for the moment.

Real Madrid player Olga Carmona, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final on August 20 against England, and four other internationals on strike, joined their coach and her staff in a hotel near the Madrid airport, noted an AFP journalist.

All were signatories of the press release published Friday, in which 39 players, including 21 of the 23 world champions, announced that the conditions were not met for them to play again with Spain.

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. .

A sixth player, Athenea del Castillo, also showed up, while other internationals are expected in the afternoon at the Oliva camp, near Valencia, to prepare for the Nations League match in Sweden on Friday. .

” To apply the law “

Victor Francos

Questioned by a journalist who asked her if she was “happy» about being on the team, goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez responded “non», confirming the fact that the strikers were returning against their will, due to the potential sanctions they risk.

«If the players do not show up, the government must enforce the law. I’m sorry to say it like this, but we have to do what we have to do», Warned the president of the Superior Sports Council (CSD) Victor Francos on Cadena Ser radio.

The Spanish Sports Law of 2022 states that failing to attend national team call-ups constitutes an offense “very serious“. Potential fines range from 3,000 to 30,000 euros, and players can even lose their license for up to five years.

Victor Francos, also Secretary of State for Sports, must now meet with the players to try to get out of the crisis, sources close to the CSD confirmed to AFP.

Upon arrival at the hotel, coach Montse Tomé assured that the 20 players on strike would accept their summons. She 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.

“We support them”

Filippa Angeldahl

On the accountpossible legal consequences» of a refusal to answer this call.

Discarded« by Tomé “to protect her», Hermoso accused the Spanish federation of “intimidate and threaten» the world champions. Reacting to the coach’s comments, N.10 asked: “Protect myself from what, or who?».

«The RFEF has no right to deprive Spain of its women’s national team, especially after winning a World Cup“, declared Tuesday the Spanish Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, asking that the Spanish Federation be “a place of security, competitiveness and professionalism.”

In addition to government support, the world champions received that of their future opponents. “If they feel they have to boycott for something to happen, clearly we support them», Assured Swedish international Filippa Angeldahl.

Guardian Hedvig Lindahl wrote on X that they were waiting “from UEFA and FIFA that they protect the actresses of the game they supervise rather than adding pressure.»

Spain must face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland on September 26 in the League of Nations, a qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, without it being known yet whether the world champions will be present on the field.

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