A total of 21 of the 23 players who were in the squad of the women’s team that won the World Cup will not be part of the national team squad because they consider the demands they made to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) unsatisfactory after the scandal and the institutional crisis that caused the non-consensual kiss of Luis Rubiales, already former president of the Federation, to Jennifer Hermoso.
Even the dismissal of Jorge Vilda as coach and the choice of Montse Tomé, their number two, as a replacement were not enough for these players. Therefore, they have informed the RFEF that they will not be available to call up the national team for the Nations League games against Sweden and Switzerland. Only Claudia Zornoza and Athenea del Castillo appear to be eligible as they were the only ones who did not sign the joint statement submitted by up to 39 footballers on Friday afternoon.
“Today we told the RFEF that the changes that have occurred are not enough to make players feel like they are in a safe place, where women are respected, there is a commitment to women’s football and we can perform to our maximum potential .” ” the statement says.
The statement called for zero tolerance for “individuals who, from a position within the RFEF, incited, concealed or applauded attitudes against the dignity of women” and “forced violent changes in the RFEF’s leadership positions.” especially in the area of women’s football.” “All these people understand that they should be away from the system,” criticize the footballers.
The 36 footballers specifically demand five specific changes that have been communicated to the RFEF: the restructuring of the women’s football organizational chart, the restructuring of the Presidential Cabinet and the Secretary General, the resignation of the current President of the RFEF (Pedro Rocha). , the restructuring of the communications and marketing area and the restructuring of the integrity management.
In short, a change in almost the entire current structure of the RFEF, which clearly reflects the dissatisfaction of the players with the decisions of the federation that have tried to calm the waves, such as the dismissal of Jorge Vilda and his replacement by Montse Tomé.
In addition to the 21 World Cup players, 18 other players were added to the declaration: Lola Gallardo, Lucía García, Nerea Eizaguirre, María León, Sandra Paños, Claudia Pina, Andrea Pereira, Patri Guijarro, Ainhoa Moraza, Inma Gabarro, Marta Cardona , Amaiur Sarriegi, Jana Fernández, Maite Oroz, Fiamma Benítez, Elena Lete, Leila Ouahabi and Laia Alexandri.
