The Spanish Football Federation reiterated on Monday its intention to make “structural changes” after the Rubiales affair, urging the 39 internationals who refuse to return to the selection to “participate in this change” and guaranteeing them a safe environment. These players, 21 of whom were crowned world champions with La Roja in August, still refuse to return to the selection, despite the resignation of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales after his forced kiss on number 10 Jenni Hermoso and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized.
“It is clear that the Federation, society and the players themselves are aligned on the same objective: renewal and the start of a new stage where football is the great beneficiary of this whole process,” said the RFEF in a press release. “Therefore, the players are asked to join this change led by the Federation, understanding that the transformations which must continue must be solid and fair”, adds the press release which comes a few hours before the new coach Montse Tomé n announces its first list for Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland.
World champions demand more resignations
The former Barca player will be without 39 players, including 21 of the 23 world champions, who said in a statement on Friday that conditions were not right for them to play for the national team again and calling for an overhaul total of Spanish football authorities. The signatories, including double Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas, are demanding more changes at different levels of the federation, including the resignation of several members who were part of Luis Rubiales’ team.
The RFEF says it is “aware of the need to make structural changes”, after having taken “difficult decisions in recent days, which will continue to be taken given the conviction that renewal is necessary”. The Spanish federation “guarantees a safe environment for the players and is committed to building a climate of mutual trust so that we can work together and ensure that women’s football continues to progress much stronger.”