Hermoso accused the Spanish Football Federation of manipulating female players
Three weeks ago, 81 players - including all 23 members of the Spanish squad that won the 2023 World Cup - announced that they would not join forces if called up, if Luis Rubiales remained president of the country's Football Federation (RFEF). .
On September 10, under pressure from public opinion, Rubiales agreed to leave his seat. However, 39 players - including 21 World Cup champions - signed a joint letter sent to the RFEF on September 15 that that was not enough for them to return to duty for the national team. These players emphasized that they are not "in a safe position" to play for the team, because RFEF has many problems, not just Rubiales.
Therefore, RFEF could not announce the Spanish national team's call-up list on September 15 as expected, and had to move to September 18. According to the schedule, the defending World Cup champion will play two women's Nations League matches at Sweden's Gamla Ullevi Stadium on September 22, then return to Nuevo Arcangel's home stadium to host Switzerland on September 26.
Montse Tome - the newly appointed coach to replace Jorge Vilda - summoned 20 people out of the 39 players who signed the letter sent to RFEF last weekend. But this number does not include Jenni Hermoso - the main character in the scandal that caused Rubiales to resign.
During the list announcement on September 18, Tome explained that she eliminated Hermoso to protect this female player, while also leaving open the possibility of calling her back in the next training sessions. "First of all, I want to say that we are with Hermoso in everything and with all the players," Tome added. "We thought the way to help them was to stay close and listen to them. The coaching staff decided that the best way to protect Hermoso was to not call her up during this training session."
The new head coach of the Spanish women's team believes that all the players called up, including two players who will not participate in the 2023 World Cup, Mapi Leon and Patricia Guijarro, will put aside conflicts with the RFEF and show their commitment. Join the team and start a new era. Tome said the whole team is expected to gather from today, September 19.
Immediately afterwards, Hermoso issued a response message to Spain's new head coach. "Ms. Tome's summon list is just another way for RFEF to divide, manipulate, and threaten players with legal consequences and economic sanctions," the female midfielder said on September 19.
According to Spanish law, if there is no valid reason, players who refuse the team's summons, including training, gathering, competing in matches and tournaments, will be fined from 3,220 to 32,195 USD. , in addition to other severe sanctions. According to Mundo Deportivo, one of the severe penalties is that the players can lose their license to play in Spain. Only players playing for foreign clubs are not affected by this penalty.
"Protect me from what? Or from whom?", Hermoso added about being absent from the upcoming team gathering. "The fact that they did not call me is another irrefutable proof that the RFEF has not changed, affirming why we female players fight and how we do it."
With three goals scored in Australia - New Zealand, Hermoso is one of three players, along with Aitana Bonmati and Alba Redondo, to score the most goals for Spain on the way to winning the Women's World Cup for the first time in August. She also won the Silver Ball, while Bonmati won the Golden Ball of the tournament.
The noise arose when Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips after the Women's World Cup final in Sydney on August 20. The former RFEF President said that Hermoso agreed to the kiss, but the female player denied it many times. Last week, prosecutors charged Rubiales with sexual assault and coercion. According to Hermoso, Rubiales pressured her to speak up to defend him right after the scandal broke out.
