Even with Luis Rubiales and Jorge Vilda gone, the Spanish women’s national team is still on strike.
After Rubiales refused to resign as Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president last month, Spain’s entire World Cup-winning team and dozens of others said they would turn down future national team call-ups “if the current leaders continue.”
With controversial ex-national team head coach Vilda fired and Rubiales having resigned amid a scandal over his unwanted kiss of Jenni Hermoso, Spain was set to announce a roster on Friday for two upcoming Women’s Nations League matches.
However, Spain’s World Cup winners said that the changes they’ve seen haven’t been enough, and they would turn down call-ups for matches on September 22 against Sweden and September 26 against Switzerland.
“The changes made are not enough for the players to feel safe, where women are respected, where there is support for women’s football and where we can maximize our potential,” read a statement signed by 39 players.
“We believe that it is time to fight to show that these situations and practices have no place in football or society, that the current structure needs changes and we do it so that the next generations can have equality in football and at the level that we all deserve.”
Among the players’ demands were a restructuring of the women’s soccer organization, the presidential cabinet and general secretary, the communications and marketing area, and the ethics/integrity department.
After the statement from the players, the RFEF announced that the roster set to be announced by new head coach Montse Tomé would be delayed.
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