Spain’s women’s players say their boycott remains, deepening crisis

SOCCER

Spain’s women’s players say their boycott remains, deepening crisis

Montse Tome, the new coach of Spain's women's soccer team, speaks at a news conference in Las Rozas, Spain, on Monday. | AFP-Jiji

By Fernando Kallas, David Latona and Joan Faus
Reuters

Sep 19, 2023

Las Rozas, Spain – Spain’s women’s players reiterated on Monday that they would continue to boycott the national team, signaling a deepening of the crisis that started after the country’s then-football federation (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup presentation ceremony.

After most of the Women’s World Cup winners were selected for upcoming games, the players said in a joint statement they would take the “best decision” for their future and health after they would study the legal implications of being included in a squad list they had asked to be left out of.

They argued the federation cannot require their presence because they alleged the call-ups were not issued within the world’s soccer governing body FIFA parameters in terms of timings and procedure.

The revolt by the players was triggered after Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s World Cup victory. She disputed his insistence the kiss was consensual, sparking a national debate about macho culture in sport and eventually led to Rubiales’s resignation.

Hermoso was not on the squad list announced by new coach Montse Tome on Monday, which included 15 of the 23 cup-winning squad plus two players — Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro — who were not called up for the finals after signing an open letter against then-coach Jorge Vilda.

“We regret once more that our federation puts us in a situation we had never desired,” said the statement, which was issued under the name of Spain’s top women’s team players but did not include signatures and was not shared by all of them on social media.

Among the ones that shared it were some of the team’s most prominent players, including Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.

A source close to three players said they had been surprised by the call-up.

Should they refuse the call-up, the players could face sanctions including fines of up €30,000 ($32,000) and the suspension of their federation licence for two to 15 years, according to Spain’s Sports Act.

“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,” the head of Spain’s government national sports agency, Victor Francos, told radio station SER.

Earlier in the day Tome, who was Vilda’s assistant for five years, told a press conference none of the players had asked not to be selected, adding that she had spoken to them but declining to reveal what was discussed.

When asked if she was confident all those on the list would answer the call to play, she said: “I have every confidence in the players ... I trust that...