Jennifer Hermoso dispels claim made by new Spain manager

Jennifer Hermoso was the most glaring omission in the controversial list read out by new Spain manager Montse Tome.

Controversial because the majority of the players who won the World Cup declared themselves unavailable for selection if changes within the Spanish FA weren’t met. Despite their stance, Tome called them up anyway.

When asked why she didn’t call up Hermoso, Tome stated she talked to her and did not call her up as a way to “protect her.”

Hermoso released a statement calling into question what the manager said.

“Let’s be clear: a claim was made today stating that the environment within the federation would be safe for my colleagues to rejoin yet at the same press conference it was announced they were not calling me as a means to protect me.

“We have been searching for weeks — months, even — for protection from the RFEF that never came. The people who now ask us to trust them are the same ones who today disclosed the list of players who have asked not to be called up.”

Hermoso and the rest of her teammates have made clear where they stand and it’s also clear the federation believes ousting two figureheads in Jorge Vilda and Luis Rubiales is more than enough.

Tome, who was part of Vilda’s staff, is only a continuation of the old regime and it’s made evident by her recent actions.

Alexia Putellas was asked about the claim that Hermoso was not called up by Tome in order to protect her.

The players who made it clear they would not return to the national team unless they saw significant change are not happy about going back. More so because they were forced to go back or else face the possible sanction of no longer being able to play the sport at a professional level.

Spain is already losing the public relations battle as the majority are on the players’ side. Nothing has been learned from the World Cup fallout.  However, the FA’s decision to try to go back to “business as usual” and simply move on doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen this time.