Olga Carmona, who scored Spain's victory over England, is in the Spanish national team. Photo: Reuters/Isabel Infantes
Spain players reluctantly arrived at their training camps despite planning a boycott because they felt the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had given them “no other choice.”
< p>The players want to continue the strike. but they faced disciplinary action if they failed to appear on Tuesday morning.
They announced their intention to go on strike last Friday but sought legal advice on Monday evening after being told to appear. New head coach Montse Thome has surprisingly included most of the World Cup-winning team's players in her roster for the upcoming Women's Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland.
Following the sexism scandal that rocked the sport after Luis Rubiales kissed striker Jenny Hermoso on the lips at the World Cup final in Sydney, players are demanding major reform and structural changes at the RFEF.
Misa Rodríguez arrives at the Spanish camp in a Madrid hotel
“Are you happy to be on the list of the Montse Tome team?”
“No.” pic.twitter.com/K64YXBUqII
— Alex Ibaseta (@alexibaceta23) September 19, 2023
Hermoso gave a sharp response to claims by new Spain head coach Montse Tome that she did not call up the striker to her team for her own protection.
Hermoso accused the former president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, of sexual assault in connection with incident after the World Cup final, Thome was dropped from the team's starting lineup, with former assistant to former head coach Jorge Wilda saying: «We think the best way to protect her is like this.»
However, Hermoso responded with a harsh statement on social media, asking: “Protect me from what? And from whom? We searched for weeks — even months — for protection from the RFEF, but it never came.»
And for her teammates, who were called up after feeling they had «no other choice» » due to RFEF were not present, despite previously declaring their intention to boycott the team. The players demanded reforms in the RFEF after the Rubiales saga.
Faced with the threat of sanctions, including the possibility of having their playing license suspended for up to 15 years or a fine of up to €30,000 per player, the team huddled before the match against Sweden after consulting with lawyers, looking extremely dejected. on Friday, which remains in serious doubt.
But their arrival resembled a farce, with some members of the team arriving in Valencia and Spanish media reporting that the RFEF had changed the venue at the last minute in an apparent attempt to prevent journalists from attending the event, while others arrived at the tournament's original venue. training camp in Madrid. Players based at clubs outside Spain were believed to be attempting to fly out on Tuesday morning.
Barcelona players traveling to Valencia were accompanied by their club psychologist, with a source telling Telegraph Sport that the Catalan club wished to assist support for our players.
Reporters also turned to the new head coach of the Spanish national team, Monse Toma. Photo: Getty Images/Thomas Coex
Real Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, the first player to arrive at the original team hotel in Madrid surrounded by reporters, was asked a question. if she were happy to be on Tom's squad list and just answer «No.»
England striker Rachel Daly, speaking on Tuesday at relatively serene St George's Park as the Lionesses prepare to face Scotland on Friday, called Rodriguez's response «heartbreaking», adding: «It's terrible to hear. Everyone involved in the women's game supports them, the Spanish players and in particular Jenny Hermoso. I hope everything works out in the right direction. We all stand in solidarity with her.
“This shows how far we still have to go in women's football around the world. It's very, very sad to see players and colleagues go through things like this. I think every female player around the world supports the Spanish team.»
According to a source close to the team, some members of the Spain squad did not know they had been called up until they watched Thome's squad announcement live on television on Monday.
Atlético Madrid and Switzerland defender Ana Crnogorcevic On Monday, criticizing the RFEF's approach in a social media post, Atletico Madrid and Switzerland defender Ana Crnogorcevic added:
This is madness… how can you threaten your own such a player…😳
call them up for the national team when they said they wanted obvious changes before returning!
this is sooooo disrespectful…
obviously they don't care… and don't let them make their own decision 😔
— Ana Crnogorcevic (@AnaCrnogorcevic) September 18, 2023
Spain's Minister of Culture and Sports Mikel Iseta also condemned the RFEF's approach, saying: «The RFEF has no right to deprive us of a team, especially after winning the FIFA World Cup for the Olympic Games,» having in view of the fact that the upcoming Nations League matches will also begin the qualification process for next summer's women's Olympic soccer competition.
The possibility of a Spanish boycott of Friday's match is being discussed. Swedish Manchester City midfielder Filippa Angeldal said: “It’s a very difficult situation. They [Spanish players] need to know that they have all the support they need, that other countries support them in whatever decision they decide to make.
“If they feel they have to boycott in order to… then it’s ready to receive, obviously, we will support them.”
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