World Cup hero Jenni Hermoso has slammed the Spanish football federation (RFEF) for calling up players who are boycotting the national team, saying that it proves “nothing has changed” at the sporting body.
New Spain coach Montse Tomé caused confusion this week when she named her 23-woman squad for upcoming Uefa Nations League matches by including 20 players who said they were striking until further changes were made to the RFEF.
The boycott was instigated by a group of 81 players following RFEF President Luis Rubiales’ behaviour at the Fifa World Cup final. Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 win over England. Hermoso says she did not consent to the kiss.
Rubiales resigned from his position as president last week, but the players remain on strike until further reforms are instituted at the federation.
“The players are certain that this is yet another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate and threaten us with legal repercussion and economic sanctions,” Hermoso tweeted.
“It is yet more irrefutable proof that shows that even today, nothing has changed.”
Hermoso was not called up to the squad by Montse, who claimed that her exclusion is “the best way to protect her”. The 33-year-old striker took exception to that explanation.
“A claim was made today stating that the environment within the federation would be safe for my colleagues to rejoin, yet at the press conference it was announced that they were not calling me as a means to protect me,” she said. “Protect me from what? And from whom?”
Players face the possibility of being punished for refusing call ups. Fines ranging between €3,000 and €30,000 could be handed out, while players could see their federation licence suspended for two to 15 years under Spain’s Sports Act.
Six Spain players have showed up for the national team camp on Tuesday, five of whom are currently on strike.
Read – The best XI from Women’s World Cup as Spain triumph
See Also – Spain’s supremo, England’s leader, and the cancer survivor