Spain will face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland on September 26 in the Women’s Nations League. The new national team coach expects the selected players to participate in the matches.
STT Sports,
SpongeBob Forsberg
The new head coach of the Spanish women’s national football team Montse Tome invited 15 fresh world champion players to the upcoming Nations League matches, although many of those selected have said they are on national team strike.
Spanish football has been in the middle of an uproar for almost a month when the president of the country’s football federation (RFEF). Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed at the award ceremony of the World Cup final Jenni Hermosoa. After the incident, numerous players expressed their support for Hermoso and refused to represent the Spanish national team.
The striking players have demanded changes to the working culture of the Spanish Football Association. Head coach of the World Cup gold team Jorge Vilda resigned from his position at the beginning of September, and eventually Rubiales also left his position as RFEF chairman after Hermoso filed a criminal complaint against him.
Tome did not select Hermoso for the national team group. Tome said that he left Hermoso out of the team because he wanted to protect him.
– We support Jenni and all the players.
Barcelona superstar Alexia Putellas instead, they chose their teammates Mapi Leon and Father Guijarron with. Leon and Guijarro skipped the World Cup in protest of Vilda’s coaching methods.
39 players, including Putellas, announced on Friday that they will stay out of the national team’s activities until the status of female players can be improved. Tome claimed on Monday that he had discussed the national team selections beforehand with the players.
– I trust that these players are professionals. They have just become world champions, they love the national team and I know they will be here (in the team) tomorrow. Today we start a new era in the national team, Tome, who was Vilda’s assistant coach, said.
According to Spanish law, the national team call must be obeyed, unless, for example, an injury prevents playing.
Spain will face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland on September 26 in the Women’s Nations League.
A restraining order was imposed on Rubiales on Friday, which prevents him from going 200 meters closer to Hermoso.
Rubiales is accused of sexual harassment and coercion. He denies the allegations. President of the European Football Association Alexander Ceferin took a stand on the case on Sunday. According to him, Rubiales’ kiss was inappropriate and cannot be understood.
– But when I read that it is treated as a serious crime, as a criminal lawyer I have to say that it is completely illogical, legal background Ceferin said.