Fifteen of the 23 world champions were called up by new coach Montsé Tomé on Monday, despite their wish not to return to the selection.
The majority of Spanish internationals, on strike after the Luis Rubiales affair, reaffirmed, Monday September 18, their “desire not to be summoned”believing that the Federation was not “not able to require their presence”. A few hours earlier during the announcement of the first list of the new coach Montse Tomé, fifteen of the 23 world champions had been called up for the next Nations League matches.
“What was expressed in our press release last Friday makes clear and without any other possible interpretation our firm desire not to be summoned for justified reasons. These declarations remain in full force”, we can read in the press release published in the evening on X (formerly Twitter) by the double Golden Ball Alexia Putellas. At the end of last week, a large number of the Spanish world champions declared that they did not want to return to the selection, demanding a total overhaul of the Spanish football authorities, after the forced kiss of the former president of the Federation, Luis Rubiales, imposed on Jenni Hermoso.
Jenni Hermoso “protected”
Left aside by Montse Tomé, For “protect her”, the attacker of Mexican club Pachuca expressed its support for its teammates. “The players are very clear that this is another divisive and manipulative strategy to intimidate us and threaten us with legal repercussions and economic sanctions.”she declared via a message published on X. Reacting to the coach’s comments, Jenni Hermoso asked: “Protect myself from what, or who?” emphasizing that the same people who seek confidence in the Federation “today publish a list of players who have asked not to be called up”.
In the press release published Monday evening, and written on behalf of “players of the Spanish women’s first team”without further details on the signatories, the Spanish assure that they will “study the possible legal consequences” to which they are exposed “to make the best decision for [leur] future and [leur] health”. According to the Spanish press, refusing to join their selection could go so far as to cause them to lose their license for several years.
“We think it is relevant to clarify that the summons was not made in time and in the proper manner. And we therefore understand that the RFEF is not in a position to require our presence,” insist the players, referring to a Fifa article which stipulates that the body must give at least 15 days’ notice. “We regret once again that our federation places us in a position that we never wanted to occupy”they conclude.
Changes insufficient
Despite the resignation of Luis Rubiales, and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized, they have still not been convinced by their leaders. The latter had reiterated on Monday their intention to carry out “structural changes”urging the 39 internationals who refuse to return to the selection to “participate in this change”. A formula taken up by Montse Tomé at a press conference.
“The players are professionals and I am sure they will do their job well, they have been doing it for a long time”declared coach Montse Tomé, perhaps too confident when unveiling her first list in the afternoon. “I know they will be with us tomorrow”, she assured. The former FC Barcelona player also retained in her list Mapi León and Patri Guijarro, not selected for the World Cup and part of the “fifteen rebels” who had already requested changes in the working methods of the national team one year ago.
In total, nineteen signatories of the initial press release are part of the list presented on Monday, but they seem determined not to join the gathering on Tuesday before the matches against Sweden on Friday and Switzerland next week in the Nations League tournament. qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Concerning Jenni Hermoso, Montse Tomé declared having spoken to her, without revealing the content of their discussion.