Almost all of Spain's women's World Cup squad said Friday that the recent changes by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) did not go far enough for them to respond to a national call-up.
The statement came as the team's new coach Montse Tome was poised to announce the line-up for two upcoming international fixtures, which federation sources said would now be delayed. “As we have informed the RFEF today, the changes put in place are not enough for the players to feel they are in a safe place where women are respected, where women's football is supported and where we can give our maximum performance,” they said in a statement released by the Futpro union.
The statement was signed by 39 players, among them 21 of the 23 players on the women's national squad. Spanish football has been in turmoil since RFEF boss Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips in front of the world's media after Spain defeated England in the Women's World Cup final on August 20.
In the statement, the players expressed their “enormous dissatisfaction” with the events after the World Cup and at a RFEF meeting five days later at which a belligerent Rubiales said he would not resign, winning widespread applause.