Football: Spain summons several Spanish world champions on strike but not Jenni Hermoso

It is a new and surprising list that has just presented Montse Tomé, the brand new coach of the Spanish women's team. For her first time, the former midfielder appointed on September 5 to replace Jorge Vilda, had to deal with the boycott of 21 of the 23 players crowned at the last World Cup.

In total, 39 professional players had reaffirmed in a statement published on 15 September that they would not play in the national team as long as the changes at the head of the Spanish Football Federation remained "insufficient". Among them, we find Jennifer Hermoso, victim of the forced kiss from Luis Rubiales or Alexia Putellas, double winner of the Ballon d'Or. However, the latter is one of the players summoned. Explanations of a complex situation.

Which team to face Sweden on Friday?

Until the last moment, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) tried to bring its players back to the national team. A little more than an hour before the announcement of the list, she went so far as to issue a statement assuring, again, the players that changes would take place. A way to publicly formalize that the Federation has begun its "necessary renewal".

But above all, the RFEF invited them to "join this change led by the Federation, understanding that the changes that must continue must be solid and equitable", and in fact to get out of their boycott. Still, no concrete measures have been announced, which is what the players are demanding.

The announcement of the selection for the inaugural season of the Women's Nations League finally took place from 16:30. After an official presentation of the new staff of the team, the first list was unveiled. And, surprise: several strikers were summoned. This is particularly the case of Olga Carmona, Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes. On the other hand, Jennifer Hermoso, victim of the forced kiss was not called. "We rely on Jenni, but we think it's the best way to protect her," she said.

👉 Esta es la lista para las dos primeras jornadas de la #UWNL

🇪🇸 La @SEFutbolFem se medirá a Suecia y a Suiza.#JugarLucharyGanar pic.twitter.com/ruBcpt0MA0

— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) September 18, 2023

A surprising choice that logically challenged the journalists present on site. Asked about possible guarantees, Montse Tomé said: "I have spoken with the players but I will not reveal anything, these are things that remain between us." "I have every confidence in the players called," she added.

As expected, Athenea del Castillo, 22, is among the players selected. On September 16, the Real Madrid striker had explained that she wanted to prioritize the game. "We spent horrible weeks after achieving one of the most important feats in Spanish football," she said. And I want to go to football, see football and especially play football," she said in a long statement on social networks, while continuing to "denounce everything that happened with Jenni Hermoso".

In the end, 15 strikers were summoned and eight world champions were absent.

The Spanish are scheduled to play two matches of the first Women's Nations League: September 22 against Sweden and September 26 against Switzerland. It is not known for the moment if Tomé will be able to count on all the players summoned.

What are the players asking for?

To be able to evolve in a "safe" place. "The changes that have taken place are not enough for the players to feel in a safe place, where women are respected, where we bet on women's football and where we can give the best of ourselves," the La Roja players wrote in their statement on September 15.

Thus, they demand in particular: a "restructuring of the organization chart of women's football", the "resignation of the president of the RFEF", "the restructuring of the communication and marketing department", the "restructuring of integrity management" and a "restructuring of the cabinet of the presidency and the general secretariat". More concretely, and as indicated by the Spanish media El Confidencial, the players demand in particular the departure of Andreu Camps.

Real right-hand man of Luis Rubiales, the players have in the past already come up against his immobility. In particular, he refused to allow the players to have their names written on their jerseys, as is the case for their male counterparts, justifying that it represented too expensive an expense...

Luis Rubiales dismissed but no immediate court decision

Sidelined but not condemned. The now ex-boss of Spanish football Luis Rubiales has submitted his resignation from the head of the Spanish football federation. "I will do it, yes, because I cannot continue my work," he said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan on September 10.

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At the end of the closed hearing, where Luis Rubiales continued to deny having made this kiss without the consent of the player, the magistrate in charge of the investigation prohibited him from approaching within 200 m of Jenni Hermoso. He is also not allowed to contact the attacker, who had reported pressure at the beginning of the case. But for the time being, the investigation is continuing and no further decisions are expected in the short term. Above all, some of the leaders of the Spanish Football Federation still in office were appointed by Rubiales. It is in particular the latter that the players are targeting.