Most of Spanish women's soccer team ends boycott following government intervention

Most of Spain's World Cup-winning players ended their boycott of the women's national team early Wednesday after the government intervened to help shape an agreement that was expected to lead to immediate structural changes at the country's soccer federation.

The players reported to camp on Tuesday after being picked by new coach Montse Tome against their will on Monday in the latest twist in the crisis that has engulfed Spanish soccer since former federation president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony following Spain's Women's World Cup title in Australia last month.

They had been in open rebellion for more than three weeks, ever since the players said on Aug. 25 that they would not play again for their country until the federation had new leadership. After Rubiales stepped down, the players still refused to come back until federation underwent thorough reform.

Specific details of the changes agreed upon were not immediately revealed following the hours-long meetings involving the government's top sports official, players, Tome and federation officials. The meetings ended at nearly 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

The president of the FUTRPO players' union, Amanda Gutierrez, said steps had been made toward establishing the same treatment for Spain's women's and men's national teams.

"An agreement has been reached to make changes to the structure of women's soccer, so that the executive and administrative staff will match that of the men's team, to further professionalize the team and staff," Gutierrez said.

He said the agreements should promote advances in gender policies and equal pay, as well as lead to structural changes in women's soccer. It was not clear, though, if any firings