The Getafe city council has been "in contact" with the club chaired by Ángel Torres to propose changing the name of the Alfonso Pérez Coliseum, understanding that the ideas shown by the former footballer "do not fit" in the municipality.
The controversy arises after Alfonso, the former player born in Getafe and who wore the shirts of Real Madrid, Betis and Barcelona, gave an interview to El Mundo in which he spoke about the demands of the world champion soccer players. "It seems very good to me that women have their space and their rights, as they have for many years, but I think that women's and men's football cannot be compared at all, because everything depends on the income you generate and the the media impact. And there is no comparison. I'm sure other athletes would like to earn like the national team's soccer players and they can't," she said in the interview.
"I would like to get paid for Cristiano Ronaldo, but I'm not that good. It is what it is. Everyone has to know where they are. They can't complain. Women's football has evolved, but they must have their feet on the ground and knowing that they cannot be equated in any sense with a male soccer player," he added.
These statements by Alfonso Pérez were responded to a day later by Sara Hernández, mayor of Getafe.
"I feel disappointed and sad. He is one of the most successful athletes in the city, but he conveys ideas that do not fit in Getafe. It saddens me that he conveys an image of sport and football solely from a business point of view and does not address because in Getafe we promote values of equality, respect and tolerance," said the mayor, in statements released by the municipal government.
"It saddens me that he talks about the national team not having to complain. Man, there have been sexual assaults, sexist attitudes have been reported and they have had to demand minimum working conditions. I have missed such award-winning athletes as, for example, Alfonso Pérez, would have come out publicly to help and support their colleagues," he said.
"The Getafe government has already contacted the club and the fans to take the corresponding measures. Getafe boasts of the opportunity between men and women," he concluded.
