Boycott for more expulsions
Spain’s world champions go on collective strike
September 15, 2023, 4:02 p.m
No peace in the Spanish association: The world champions have announced that they will also go on strike in the Nations League. They are calling for further changes in the association, the new national coach is facing a huge problem – because Olympic qualification is in danger.
Boycott instead of immediate return: The Spanish world champions are igniting the next level of escalation in their dispute with their own association. Despite the resignation of President Luis Rubiales and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, the strike following the kissing scandal continues. According to consistent media reports, all 23 heroines from Sydney and numerous other players canceled the upcoming Nations League games – and put Montse Tome in trouble right at the premiere.
Because the new national coach was only informed about the numerous rejections a few hours before her first nomination and now has to come up with a plan B in a hurry. The changes in the RFEF association apparently do not go far enough for the world champions. According to Mundo Deportivo, they are also demanding the dismissals of Secretary General Andreu Camps, Miguel Garcia Caba, head of the integrity department, and some employees of the press department.
Late on Thursday evening, at a meeting with the FUTPRO union, the world champions are said to have agreed to boycott the games against Sweden and Switzerland on September 22nd and 26th; 81 players had already officially gone on strike on August 25th. They apparently only want to return when all remnants that, in their view, have damaged women’s football have been removed.
The Olympics are also in danger
In doing so, they run the risk of seriously jeopardizing their participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The two European starting places will ultimately be played out via the Nations League. Will a C team be enough to win the group? More than questionable. Sweden (semi-finals) and Switzerland (round of 16) are looking for revenge after their elimination against the Spanish at the World Cup.
But the players accept sporting failures; they want to send a clear signal after the now-resigned head of the association, Luis Rubiales, kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth. There needs to be sustainable change. Rubiales had to stand trial on allegations of sexual violence. The ex-president appeared at the National Court of Justice of Spain in Madrid late this morning. The hearing is not open to the public, and Rubiales did not say a word to the waiting journalists and photographers.
Coach Vilda was fired the previous week in the wake of the kissing scandal. The ex-coach was already considered controversial and a close ally of Rubiales before winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 15 players went on strike against Vilda in September 2022 to protest against the coach’s methods. The association still stuck with him – until the pressure in the wake of the Rubiales scandal became too great. Former Barça player Tome now has to pick up the pieces as her successor.