Summoned on Monday by the new coach, 15 of the 23 world champions had nevertheless reaffirmed their intention not to honor this call on Monday.
Six Spanish international footballers, five of whom had been on strike since the Luis Rubiales affair, finally showed up, Tuesday, September 19, at a first gathering of their selection in Madrid. However, they reaffirmed on Monday that they did not wish to play again with La Roja for the moment.
Real Madrid player Olga Carmona, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final on August 20 against England, and four other striking internationals joined their coach and her staff in a hotel near the Madrid airport, noted an AFP journalist.
All were signatories of the press release published Friday, in which 39 players, including 21 of the 23 world champions, announced that the conditions were not met for them to play again with Spain. After the resignation of Luis Rubiales following his forced kiss imposed on Jenni Hermoso, and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized, they are demanding profound structural changes within the Spanish Football Federation. A sixth player, Athenea del Castillo, who is not on strike, also showed up on Monday.
Will all of the strikers accept their summons? “Yes”, assured coach Montse Tomé upon her arrival at the hotel, after having created a surprise on Monday by announcing a list including fifteen world champions and other players who had asked not to be selected pending an overhaul total of the Federation.
Dissuasive sanctions?
The internationals had reaffirmed in the evening their desire not to be summoned, while saying they were evaluating the “possible legal consequences” of a refusal to respond to this call. Victor Francos, president of the Superior Sports Council (CSD), threatened sanctions by recalling that the Spanish sports law of 2022 stipulates that not attending national team summons constitutes an offense “very serious”.
Potential fines range from 3,000 to 30,000 euros, and players can even lose their license for up to five years. “If the players don’t show up, the government has to enforce the law. I’m sorry to say it like this, but we have to do what we have to do.”, declared Victor Francos on Cadena Ser radio on the night of Monday to Tuesday. Spain must face Sweden on Friday, and Switzerland on September 26 in the Nations League, the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.