The vast majority of Spain鈥檚 World Cup-winning squad says it will refuse to be called up for the country鈥檚 two upcoming Women鈥檚 Nations League matches as it continues to push for 鈥渞eal structural changes鈥� in Spanish soccer, following the fallout from ex-soccer boss Luis Rubiales鈥� unwanted kiss on La Roja star Jennifer Hermoso.
For nearly a month, Spain has been rocked by the incident between ex-Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rubiales and Hermoso, which has overshadowed the team鈥檚 historic victory.
Spain was due to announce a squad for its next two matches on Friday but has now postponed the decision after 39 players, including 21 of the 23-woman World Cup squad, signed a joint letter condemning RFEF.
鈥淎s of today, as we have communicated to RFEF, the changes which have been made are not enough so that the players feel in a safe place, where women are respected, women鈥檚 football is supported and where we can give our all,鈥� the letter said, which was posted by two-time Ballon d鈥橭r Féminin winner Alexia Putellas on X, formerly Twitter.
鈥淲e wish to end this statement expressing that the players of the Spanish women鈥檚 national team are professional players, and what most fills us with pride is putting on the shirt of the national team and always taking our country to the highest places.
鈥淏ecause of that, we believe it is the moment to fight to show that these situations and practices have no place in our football or in our society, that the current structure needs change and we are doing this so that the next generations can have a much more equal football and one at the level which we all deserve.鈥�
MORE CHANGE NEEDED
The latest development comes after more than 80 Spanish soccer players 鈥� including all of Spain鈥檚 2023 World Cup squad 鈥� had put their name on a letter supporting Hermoso on August 25, originally saying they would not return to the national team 鈥渋f the current leaders continue鈥� in their posts and if there wasn鈥檛 鈥渞eal structural changes鈥� to the federation.
As a result, interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha began to make moves as part of his 鈥渞egeneration鈥� of the federation, firing controversial coach Jorge Vilda despite Spain鈥檚 unprecedented World Cup win and appointing his deputy, Montse Tomé 鈥� the first woman to take over the role. Rocha then vowed in a meeting with the president of the High Council of Sport, Víctor Francos, to make more 鈥渟tructural changes鈥� in RFEF.
The announcement from the players is bound to leave Tomé struggling to field a competitive team against Sweden and Switzerland on September 22 and 26.
The development comes after Rubiales testified in Spain鈥檚 National Court in Madrid on Friday morning after being summoned by the presiding judge to aid in the court鈥檚 investigation into potential charges of sexual assault and coercion against him.
Rubiales resigned from his position on Sunday following weeks of pressure from all spheres of Spanish society and has now been handed a restraining order and told not to go within 200 meters of Hermoso.
