Spain creates commission
Jennifer Hermoso returns to the team to applause
October 24, 2023, 10:00 a.m
For the first time since the World Cup award ceremony, which turned into a farce, Jennifer Hermoso is playing with the Spanish world champions again. The fans give them a warm welcome. The work continues behind the scenes: a commission is supposed to prevent sexual violence in the future.
Applause for the returnee: World champion Jennifer Hermoso completed training with the Spanish footballers for the first time since the sexual assault by former association president Luis Rubiales. The spectators present applauded when the 33-year-old entered the field in Madrid with her colleagues. The offensive player then posed for photos with fans.
The team led by new coach Montse Tomé will meet Italy on Friday as part of the Nations League, followed by a game in Switzerland on Tuesday next week. At the end of September, for the first international match after winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Hermoso had not yet been called up – according to Tomés, for her own protection. Hermoso vehemently contradicted this.
The players were also active off the pitch. Together with the national association RFEF and the highest sports authority CSC, they have founded a commission that is intended to ensure far-reaching reforms. Among other things, this is about putting an end to sexual violence.
Professionalization contract
RFEF President Pedro Rocha highlighted the importance of the agreement. “It is a very important day for all of us. We have listened to this team and are trying to solve all the problems,” he was quoted as saying in an RFEF statement. Mechanisms should be introduced to prevent and respond to situations in which discrimination or sexual harassment and harassment based on gender occur.
But it’s not just about preventing behavior like the forced kiss on Hermoso’s mouth in the future, but also about measures to further professionalize women’s football, wrote the newspaper “El País”. It is also about a fair remuneration system in all sports categories. The parties also undertake to take concrete measures to protect young mothers and the right to breastfeeding and to propose mediation mechanisms.
Rubiales’ transgression had triggered a storm of indignation around the world, and the world champions had temporarily gone on strike. Rubiales initially stubbornly remained in office, but then gave up under great pressure. He is also not allowed to approach Hermoso or have any contact with her. The controversial world champion coach Jorge Vilda was fired as part of the World Cup review. He is now coach of the Moroccan national team.