On September 22, a month after their world championship title, the Spanish footballers returned to the field by playing a Nations League match against Sweden in Gothenburg. Before kick-off, the two united teams posed together behind a barrier that read "#SeAcabo. Our fight is a global one."
SeAcabo means "it's over" in Spanish. Reference obviously to the forced kiss of the former president of the Spanish federation Luis Rubiales to Jenni Hermoso on the podium of the World Cup in Australia. Spanish players, but not only they now, are engaged in a fight against all forms of physical and sexual violence in women's football.
🇸🇪🤝🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/8RRaAXArC2
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) September 22, 2023
Before this match in Sweden, La Roja has hardly had any training since the new Spanish coach, Montse Tomé, surprised everyone on Monday by summoning a majority of players who had declared themselves ineligible. Most of the 23 players summoned, including world champions such as Alexia Putellas, had signed a declaration of ineligibility until changes took place within the Spanish Federation (RFEF).
These changes are slow in their eyes even if this Friday, Miguel García Caba left his position as director of the "integrity" department of the Iberian federation. A supporter of Rubiales, he led the "integrity" sector, for which the players had requested restructuring.
On Wednesday, the secretary general of the federation Andreu Camps, a close friend of Rubiales, whose players demanded the departure was also sacked "We are happy because it is true that changes are underway and in this context we fully support our teammates," said international Mapi León. Two internationals still left the rally on Wednesday.
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Through this League of Nations, the Spanish play their first qualification to the Olympic Games. The two finalists of the tournament will qualify for Paris 2024. If the France, already qualified as the host country, is a finalist, the ticket will go to the selection that wins the match for third place.
