The Spanish women’s national team remains embroiled in controversy as 41 players have refused to return to the national set-up until systemic change is implemented within the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The 23 players from the triumphant World Cup squad plus an additional 18 players have announced their resignations ahead of the upcoming Nations League campaign after a meeting held on Thursday evening, according to El Espanol.
The meeting, which included players along with FUTPro union representatives, reportedly lasted late into the evening and eventually culminated in the decision for players not to accept call-ups to interim manager Montse Tome’s squad for Spain's upcoming fixtures against Switzerland and Sweden.
Tome's squad was scheduled to be released on Friday.
The players have demanded sweeping change within the RFEF, including the removal of high-ranking officials and those closest to disgraced former president Luis Rubiales, whose unsolicited kiss of striker Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup trophy presentation has incurred searing backlash.
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Rubiales was suspended by FIFA prior to him reluctantly stepping down from his post. Hermoso submitted a complaint to the national prosecutor’s office on Wednesday and Rubiales, who resigned in an interview with Piers Morgan on Sunday, has been summoned to testify at Spain’s High Court on Friday on charges of sexual assault and coercion.
The players have explicitly called for the dismissal of those who attempted to coerce Hermoso to appear in an apology video alongside Rubiales and former manager Jorge Vilda after the incident.
Vilda, already a contentious figure after his alleged maltreatment incited a 15-player strike after last summer's European Championships, was also relieved of his duties less than a month after winning the World Cup as the RFEF sought to limit the damage caused by the spiralling crisis.
Jorge Vilda (L) and Luis Rubiales (R)Nevertheless, the RFEF has continued to be the subject of fierce criticism due to the ill-handling of the situation, including their initially staunch support of Rubiales, who has consistently maintained that the kiss with Hermoso was mutual and consensual.
Olga Carmona, the World Cup-winning goalscorer, warned earlier this week that the Spanish national team could continue their strike action as the team "continue along that line of growth and improvements to be able to develop our profession at the highest level.”
The team have repeatedly slammed the RFEF for a lack of professionalisation within the national setup, including subpar facilities, travel arrangements and coaching in comparison to that of the men's senior team.
Spanish women's football has been in disarray since the fallout from the World Cup, but enforcing systemic change has been a key pillar of the team's ongoing fight against Rubiales and the RFEF's perceived ill-treatment.
Players competing in Liga F, the top-tier women's football competition in Spain, announced strike action for the first two weeks of the new season after failed negotiations over establishing a new league minimum wage.
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