New historic day in Spanish women’s football. The Board of Directors of the Higher Sports Council (CSD) approved this Monday the statutes that give the green light to the definitive start-up of the first women’s professional soccer league in Spain. A fact that puts an end to the long wait that has kept this category in suspense since last June 15, when the CSD officially approved this professionalization.
The event, held in the morning at the CSD headquarters, was chaired by the president of this public entity and Secretary of State for Sport, José Manuel Franco, and brought together all the parties involved, with institutional representatives and players from all premier clubs. The president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, and members of the main unions such as AFE, Futbolistas ON or FutPro were also present.
Among the twenty footballers who attended the event were Ivana Andrés (Real Madrid), Amanda Sampedro and Meseguer (Atlético), Garazi Murua and Ainhoa Moraza (Athletic), Maddi Torre (Real Sociedad), Paula Nicart (Sevilla), Sheila Elorza ( Eibar), Nuria Liguero (Betis), Marta Carro (Valencia) or Lucía Gómez (Levante), among others.
The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, was one of the first to speak to indicate that he would be loyal to this project. “José Manuel (Franco) has all the merits of this. We are launching a message of equality that we hope will catch on and that will mean that men and women are always together in this sport.”
Next, it was the turn of José Manuel Franco, president of the CSD: “My words are of gratitude to all the parties involved. I only have words of thanks for all of you who have made this day possible. It is a historic day for women’s football and for women’s sport in this country. I am glad that Luis (Rubiales) is here and I thank you for your words. As I also thank the clubs. And, of course, I cannot forget the unions, which have also contributed their grain of sand”.
And he continued: “We are going to make history. Today we celebrate with you a tremendously important milestone. With the approval of these statutes, a new country model is crystallized. The Professional Women’s Soccer League is finally a reality. Spain settles a debt with women soccer players. This will raise the great level that the sport practiced by women has in our country. There have been months of negotiation and all parties have had to give in. Far from being capricious, this consensus represents a collective responsibility for women in sport to move faster and go further. Although the initiative comes from the Government of Spain, it must be said that we have sought the complicity and support of the parliamentary groups. LI also appreciate the loyalty and support for this goal”
Franco wanted to highlight the great objective of ending that inequality that still exists in Spanish sport with respect to women: “The CSD has been working for equal opportunities in sport for years. The value of a society is determined by how it treats its women.yes This is a milestone. Today we can proudly say that this Government of Spain is committed to equality like never before. I am convinced that this decision will have a positive impact for other disciplines.
And, he added, that football “will be the locomotive that drives the rest of sports.” “Aid will also be given for women’s sports such as basketball, hockey, among others. I must regret that in Spain we have ignored 50% of our sports potential and we will do everything necessary to correct this inequality. Equality enriches sport and Spanish society”, declared Franco, who wanted a woman to preside over this first professional women’s soccer league and recalled that the CSD has launched great aid for infrastructure. “We want the players to work in optimal conditions,” she said.
“It is a historic day. We had many years and in the end we have achieved it. I hope we serve as an example for other women’s sports. The independent clubs have bet a lot on us without receiving anything in return,” said Sheila Elorza, Eibar’s captain. Along these lines, Marta Carro, from Valencia, continued: “We must thank all of us who have fought and all of those who fought for this day to come. At last an agreement has been reached for a League that women’s football deserves “.
They were joined by Lola Romero, president of the Women’s Athletic Club and representative of the ACFF, who thanked the CSD for “remembering women’s football” and the RFEF “for continuing to be there. She also thanked the players for their struggle, and to all the clubs that have worked on this.
“I don’t want to stop remembering the president of Oiartzun, who showed us that men also fight for women’s football. We are showing the way of what women’s sport can be tomorrow. I appeal to responsibility and union. They always told me that if you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together. You have to go hand in hand for this to be worth it.
In this way, one more step is taken. And one less problem is crossed out for the professional women’s soccer league, which had slowed down due to the lack of agreement on the statutes between the clubs. The three opposing sides at the start (FC Barcelona, Athletic Club and Real Madrid, on the one hand; Madrid CFF, on the other; and the rest of the clubs, which presented a joint proposal) They managed to come to an agreement after several months of uncertainty in which the progress of this new competition was stopped.
Now, everyone will work under the same umbrella with a great objective: to carry out this professional League. The first step will be to call elections to elect the president of this new entity, which will simulate the LaLiga model. From the CSD it has been insisted from the beginning that they prefer it to be a woman. However, and as AS has learned, the election of a man of weight from the clubs, which are the ones that will take the lead because it will be a vote solely for them, is not ruled out.
At the moment, only one candidacy has been officially presented: United for Football, headed by the former international goalkeeper Ainhoa Tirapu and Dolores Martelli, former director of women’s football of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The former Athletic player is joined by three other women, whose names have come to the fore through rumours. This is María Teixidor, former director of Barça; María Tato, former president of women’s football of the RFEF; and, Ana Muñoz, former director general of the CSD.