Pau Barrena / AFP
Although they have announced their desire not to be called up for the national team under such conditions, the Spanish players refuse to attend the call of their new coach.
FOOTBALL – If Rubiales is no longer here, the crisis has not yet disappeared within La Roja. On Monday, September 18, the day of the new Spanish coach’s first list, the majority of players reaffirmed their “desire not to be summoned”believing that the Spanish Federation is still not “I cannot demand your presence.”.
It must be said that practically all the Spanish internationals have been on strike since the Rubiales affair, which occurred almost immediately after the world champion title won in Australia in August.
The player Alexia Putellas, double Ballon d’Or winner, also shared on her social networks the press release of the group of players on strike (39 players, including 21 of the 23 Spanish players crowned in Sydney). A text in which they reaffirm that “What was expressed in our press release last Friday makes clear and without any other possible interpretation our firm desire not to be summoned for justified reasons.”
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“These statements remain in full force and effect.” despite the decision of Montse Tomé, La Roja’s new coach, to select a large part of the forwards. In fact, there are 15 of the 23 Spanish world champions who have been called up this Monday, September 18.
The players are called to Madrid on Tuesday for two Nations League matches. If they do not appear, they risk heavy fines (between 3,000 and 30,000 euros), between two and fifteen years of license suspension and a ban on entering the stadium for up to five years. A measure of pressure confirmed by Víctor Francos, president of the Higher Council of Spanish Sports.
« If they don’t show up, the government will do what it has to do, which is enforce the law. To my great regret and misfortune. But the law is the law. “I remain convinced that there may be a solution.”declared this Tuesday, September 19.
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Víctor Francos plans to meet this Tuesday with the captains of the Spanish team. “ We are going to tell the players that the Government’s commitment is accompanied by all the consequences that arise from it. We will do what is necessary to regularize the situation with the Federation, but we ask you to go to these games “, argument.
Unconditional support for your colleagues
On the other hand, Jenni Hermoso was left aside by the new coach for “protect her”. She was the one who was kissed on the lips by the head of her federation, before being dragged into a media whirlwind that has yet to find an end.
The footballer who currently plays for the Mexican club Pachuca also accused the Spanish Federation of“intimidate and threaten” the world champion players summoning them against their will.
“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”he said in a statement published on X.
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Given the coach’s comments, Hermoso asked: “Protect me from what or who? »highlighting that the same people who seek trust in the Federation “Today we publish a list of players who have asked not to be called up”.
“I want to express all my support to my colleagues who today were surprised and forced to react to a new unfortunate situation caused by the people who today continue to make decisions within the Federation”Beautiful said again.
Who will wear the first Spanish star?
In the first statement published by the Spanish players, they considered that the conditions were not met to play for the national team again and asked for a total reform of the Spanish football authorities, not considering the resignation of the former Spanish football coach sufficient. Luis Rubiales after the forced kiss of him, and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose work methods they criticized.
In the press release issued Monday afternoon and written on behalf of “players of the first Spanish women’s team”Without further details about the signatories, the Spanish assure that they will do so “study the possible legal consequences” to which they are exposed “to make the best decision for (your) future and (your) health”.
Furthermore, they say they believe that their call was not made in the time and manner established by FIFA regulations, which would prevent their federation “to demand his presence” at the scheduled meeting. “We regret once again that our federation places us in a position we never wanted to occupy”they conclude.
Now we will have to closely follow the next decisions taken in Spain. La Roja’s next matches, against Sweden and Switzerland, will be crucial because it is a qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Not seeing the 2023 world champions there would be especially curious.
On the other hand, the idea of seeing the Spanish red shirt embroidered with a star that the winners of the last World Cup wear on Friday seems very compromising.
See also in The HuffPost:
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