Return after the kissing scandal
World champions win with a fighting message
September 22, 2023, 9:19 p.m
The Spanish footballers received a lot of support at the Nations League game. There is a remarkable group photo with the opponents. The world champions win the game. The consequences of the kissing scandal are still weighing on the team.
After the World Cup triumph in Australia, the kissing scandal, a major strike and many upheavals, Spain’s soccer world champions returned to the pitch with a last-minute victory – the start of the Nations League in Sweden was all about fighting against the grievances in the national association. Spain won 3:2 (1:1), before kick-off the Swedes expressed their solidarity with their opponents.
Both teams posed together in Gothenburg behind a banner with the slogan #SeAcabo (“It’s over”) and the inscription “Our fight is the global fight.” Swedish fans also showed posters promoting equality for women in sport and society. When the players came onto the pitch to warm up, they were greeted with great applause, reported “Mundo Deportivo”.
Hermoso is missing for “own protection”
There were nine World Cup winners in Spain’s starting line-up. During the team photo, the players showed bandages on their wrists with messages of support for Jenni Hermoso. The 33-year-old was not nominated, according to the new national coach Montse Tome, for her “own protection”.
After winning the World Cup final in Sydney, Hermoso was kissed on the mouth by the now resigned Spanish association president Luis Rubiales without her consent at the award ceremony. He asserts that it was done by mutual consent. But Hermoso said she felt “like the victim of an impulsive, sexist and inappropriate act to which I did not consent.”
Meet three world champions
The incident was new fuel in a dispute with the RFEF association that had been simmering for some time. The players had demanded personnel and structural changes at the association. The players declared their strike for the Nations League, but Tome still nominated a team. Ultimately, even the Spanish government got involved, and after long discussions, 21 players agreed to return to the squad.
The world champions Athenea (37th), Eva Navarro (77th) and Mariona (90th + 6) scored for Spain with a penalty kick in stoppage time on Friday evening. Magdalena Eriksson (23rd) and Lina Hurtig (82nd) were successful for Sweden. Next Tuesday Spain will face Switzerland.