Footballer Jenni Hermoso, victim of a forced kiss during the presentation of the World Cup by the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales, accused the institution of “intimidating and threatening” the world champion players by summoning them against their will for two Nations League matches.
On Friday, 15 of the 23 world champions announced that they did not want to return to the selection, demanding a total overhaul of Spanish football authorities.
But they were still called up on Monday for the next League of Nations matches by the new coach Montse Tomé, who however left Jenni Hermoso aside to “protect” her. The player, who currently plays for Mexican club Pachuca, expressed her support for her teammates in a statement.
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. »
“Protect myself from what, or who? »
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 “are today publishing a list of players who have asked not to be summoned”. Monday evening, the majority of Spanish internationals, on strike, reaffirmed a few hours after the announcement of Montse Tomé’s first list, their “desire not to be summoned”, believing that the Federation was “not able to ‘require their presence’.
“I would like to express all my support to my teammates who, today, were surprised and forced to react to a new unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the Federation today,” said declared Hermoso again.
The players are summoned to Madrid this Tuesday and, if they do not appear, they risk heavy fines and two to fifteen years of suspension of their license from the federation.