Hours before new Spain manager Montse Tome was set to name the squad list for the upcoming Nations League, the majority of Spain’s players released a statement stating they were not going to made available for selection.
“The changes made are not enough for the players to feel safe, where women are respected, where there is support for women’s football and where we can maximize our potential,” the statement read in part.
Several of the national team players posted the statement on social media including its most prominent figure, Alexia Putellas.
#SeAcabó pic.twitter.com/tV49CkOq4F
— Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) September 15, 2023
Of the World Cup champions, all but two signed the letter. Real Madrid’s Claudia Zornosa and Athenea del Castillo were the two who did not.
It’s worth pointing out Zornosa announced she was retiring from the national team. A decision she made prior to the World Cup. She also used her announcement to send support and solidarity to her teammates.
Zornoza anuncia en sus redes sociales que se retira de la selección, una decisión que "ya había tomado antes del campeonato del Mundo".
— Maria Tikas (@MariaTikas) September 15, 2023
También expresa su "solidaridad con mis compañeras y desear que la estructura de toda la selección cambie de una vez por todas". https://t.co/CeUnT8HDHo
The players are not returning to the national team as they do not feel enough change and progress has been made.
Jorge Vilda is now the former Spain manager as he was sacked a week ago. Luis Rubiales is now the former RFEF president as he announced he was stepping down in an interview with Piers Morgan.
It is clear the players believe Rubiales and Vilda were only a symptom of what they consider to be a much larger problem. They are looking for systemic changes which have yet to occur.
The players are asking for these changes:
— Alex Ibaceta (@alexibaceta23) September 15, 2023
• Resignation of the RFEF president
• Restructuring of:
- the women's football organisation
- the presidential cabinet and general secretary
- the communications and marketing area
- the ethics/integrity department
Following the players’ announcement, the RFEF themselves announced that Tome’s squad call-up was to be delayed until a later time.
It remains to be seen whether or not there will be any punishment for the players given the RFEF previously had threatened consequences should they refuse a call-up.
The protest appears far from over and it won’t be over until the players feel they have been listened to and things change for the better.
“We want to end this statement by expressing that the players of the Spanish team are professionals, and what fills us most with pride is wearing the shirt of our national team and leading our country to the highest position. That is why we believe it is the time to fight to show that these situations and practices don’t have a place in our football nor in our society, that the current structure needs to change and we do it for the future generations so they can have equality in football and at the level we all deserve.”