Spanish women’s football players are relieved to put the past month behind them and refocus on the sport they love after ending their boycott of the national team. The boycott, initiated in response to an incident where former Spanish Federation (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips following their World Cup victory, has now concluded. Midfielder Aitana Bonmati spoke about their desire to “just stick to football.”
UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and World Cup MVP, Bonmati, acknowledged the toll the month-long standoff had taken but emphasized the relief felt by her and her teammates. The RFEF recently committed to “immediate and profound changes” in its structure, leading to the resolution of the boycott.
Despite having only one training session, the team managed to secure a thrilling 3-2 win over top-ranked Sweden in their Nations League Group A clash in Gothenburg last Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in Cordoba on Monday, ahead of their match against Switzerland, Bonmati highlighted the importance of their stand for gender equality, saying, “We are setting an example on a sporting and social level, that men and women should be treated equally.”
Reflecting on the initial challenging days of the boycott, marked by stress and anxiety, Bonmati noted the evolving situation, saying, “We have now been able to focus on football, which is what we want.”
The incident involving Rubiales had cast a shadow over the team’s World Cup triumph and ignited discussions around gender equality. The players had been striving for parity with their male counterparts for nearly a decade, enduring two dressing room rebellions that led to the end of international careers for several players before the recent breakthrough.
Bonmati commented on the broader significance of their struggle, stating, “(Gender equality) is a global struggle, and all the players feel it is a little bit our own. We are here to play football, but we have a loudspeaker and a responsibility to leave football and women in a better place than we found it.”
As part of the agreement to end the boycott, between six and nine senior officials of the RFEF will either leave their positions voluntarily or be dismissed, according to a federation source. Secretary general Andreu Camps and director of integrity Miguel Garcia Caba have already been removed from their positions, as announced by the RFEF over the weekend.
