In a resolute stance, Spain’s women’s football players have reiterated their decision to continue boycotting the national team, signaling a deepening crisis that originated after Luis Rubiales, the former head of the country’s football federation (RFEF), kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup presentation ceremony.
Following the selection of most of the Women’s World Cup-winning players for upcoming games, the players issued a joint statement stating that they would carefully consider the “best decision” for their future and well-being. They plan to study the legal implications of being included in a squad list they had previously requested to be excluded from.
Their argument centers on the contention that the federation cannot mandate their presence, as they claim the call-up did not adhere to FIFA parameters concerning timing and procedure.
The players’ revolt was sparked by the incident where Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s World Cup victory. Hermoso contested Rubiales’s claim that the kiss was consensual, igniting a national debate about macho culture in sports and ultimately leading to Rubiales’s resignation.
Notably, Hermoso was not included in the squad list announced by new coach Montse Tome, which featured 15 of the 23 cup-winning squad members and two additional players, Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, who were not called up for the finals after signing an open letter against then-coach Jorge Vilda.
A statement issued on behalf of Spain’s top women’s team players, though lacking signatures and social media sharing by all, expressed regret over the federation’s actions, stating, “We regret once more that our federation puts us in a situation we had never desired.” Prominent players like Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati were among those who shared the statement.
Sources close to some players revealed their surprise at the call-up.
Refusing the call-up could result in sanctions, including fines of up to 30,000 euros ($32,000) and suspension of their federation licenses for two to 15 years, in accordance with Spain’s Sports Act.
Victor Francos, the head of Spain’s government national sports agency, stressed the need to apply the law if players do not comply, stating, “If the players do not show up, the government must apply the law. I’m sorry to say so, but we must do what we have to do.”
Montse Tome, who had served as Vilda’s assistant for five years, assured that none of the players had requested not to be selected. She expressed confidence in the players’ professionalism and their commitment to the sport.
The ongoing crisis had been further exacerbated when a group of 39 players, including 21 from the cup-winning squad, demanded additional changes at the football federation. They asserted that Rubiales’s resignation and Vilda’s replacement were insufficient for their return to the team.
In their Monday statement, they reiterated their firm stance against being called up for “justified reasons.” Their position remains unchanged, and they have not conveyed any different views to RFEF officials since their initial statement.
With 20 out of the 39 players in the squad for upcoming matches, Spain faces a challenging period of transition in women’s football, marked by deep divisions and unresolved issues within the federation.
Montse Tome suggested that Jenni Hermoso’s omission from the squad was due to the intense media attention she had received in the past month. Tome emphasized the team’s support for Hermoso while acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
Earlier in the day, the federation acknowledged the necessity for “structural changes” and the need to identify those responsible for the players’ grievances, highlighting the ongoing turmoil within Spanish women’s football.
