A group of 20 Spain players insist they remain on strike despite being called up to new head coach Montse Tome's first squad; Jenni Hermoso one of eight of Spain Women's World Cup-winning squad absent after Tome said she was left out for her own "protection"
Tuesday 19 September 2023 19:02, UK
Jenni Hermoso has accused the Spanish football federation of 'intimidation' and making 'threats' after the governing body called up a host of players who asked not to join up with the women's national team.
Hermoso was not selected in Spain's first squad since lifting the Women's World Cup, but 15 of her title-winning team-mates were included in the 23-player group named on Monday despite announcing a boycott last month.
That followed the storm created by RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissing midfielder Hermoso on the lips as Spain's players celebrated their World Cup final win against England on August 20. Hermoso insists she did not consent to the kiss.
Some of the rebel players from Spain's World Cup-winning women's squad who had threatened to boycott the national team in a push to stamp out sexism and gender inequality reported for training on Tuesday under the threat of being sanctioned.
Misa Rodriguez, Olga Carmona, Oihane Hernandez, Eva Navarro and Tere Abelleira, who had previously said they would not play for the team until further changes were applied at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), arrived at a hotel near Madrid's airport.
The five were named in the squad ahead of a Women's Nations League match against Sweden on Friday by new coach Montse Tome despite signing a statement last week calling for more heads to roll at the RFEF beyond Rubiales and former coach Jorge Vilda.
Asked as she arrived at the hotel whether she was happy to have been selected for the team, Rodriguez replied: "No."
Tome said Hermoso had been left out of the latest squad for her own protection during a press conference, while there was a fresh twist on Monday evening when players released a statement refusing their call-ups.
Hermoso then released a separate statement on social media, saying the RFEF has demonstrated that nothing has changed since Rubiales resigned from his post last week.
The 33-year-old posted in the early hours of Tuesday: "We have spent weeks, months, searching for protection from inside the RFEF that never came.
"The same people who ask us to trust them are those who today announced a squad with players who asked NOT to be called up.
"The players are certain that this is yet another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate and threaten us with legal repercussions and economic sanctions.
"It is more irrefutable proof that shows even today, that nothing has changed."
She added: "I would like to make something very clear: A claim was made today stating the environment within the federation would be safe for my team-mates to rejoin, yet at the same press conference it was announced that they were not calling me as a means to protect me.
"Protect me from what? And from whom?
"I want to once again show my full support to my colleagues who have been caught by surprise and forced to react to another unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the RFEF.
"This is why we are fighting and why we are doing it this way."
A group of 81 players, including all 23 members of the World Cup squad, indicated three weeks ago that they would not play for Spain again while Rubiales remained RFEF president as a result of his behaviour at the final.
Amid increasing pressure, Rubiales finally resigned from his post last week but 39 players, including 21 of Spain's World Cup winners, released a statement on Friday saying that was not enough to trigger their return to national-team duty.
The players said they were not yet "in a safe place" to return and that the problems at the RFEF ran far deeper than Rubiales.
Rubiales has been banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso as the national court in Madrid considered a complaint of sexual assault - something the 46-year-old denies.
Tome had been due to name her squad on Friday, but the announcement had to be delayed.
Barcelona's Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, who were not included in Spain's World Cup party after signing a letter protesting against former manager Jorge Vilda, who was sacked during the fallout of Rubiales' actions, were listed in Monday's squad.
Tome said Spain were still "counting on" Hermoso, despite her omission.
"We stand with Jenni," she told a press conference. "We believe that the best way to protect her is like this, but we are counting on Jenni.
"It's the start of a new phase, the clock is ticking. There is nothing behind us and we really want to connect with these players."
