The Spanish internationals have broken their silence with a joint statement that they have published through their social networks in which they explain the reasons why they have informed the Federation this morning that they are still not eligible. They consider the changes insufficient and have made this known to the Federation through a letter in which they detail these reasons.
This time they did not want to leave room for doubt and wanted to express the reasons in a clear and firm letter signed by 39 internationals. Only three players have been left out of the 30 who made up the pre-list for the World Cup and the 12 who were left out of the tournament. These are the world champions Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Zornoza (who is retiring from the national team), and Sheila García.
A unanimity that has cracked during the morning. With so many voices involved, it has not been easy to agree on the tone that the public letter should have, or whether it should indicate with names and surnames those responsible whose heads they are asking for. Although in the end some footballers have not signed it, a large majority has, a total of 39, and they all agree on protecting each other, whatever they decide.
The 23 world champions, as well as the 12 who resigned from the national team, among whom are the Blaugrana Mapi León and Patri Guijarro, participated last night in a telematic meeting that lasted until late hours and after which they agreed to communicate today to the Federation that they remained firm in their position.
Since last August 25, five days after Rubiales' non-consensual kiss with Jenni Hermoso, more than 80 active and former soccer players signed their joint resignation from the national team asking for “real structural changes” and stating that they would not return as long as they continued “ the current leaders”, there have been two notable departures.
The first was the dismissal of Jorge Vilda, on September 5, in whose place the Federation put its second, Montse Tomé. The Asturian coach presented her resignation along with the rest of the coaching staff days after the Assembly, but she assumed the position of the acting president, Pedro Rocha. Now, he must decide if he continues to lead or decides to take a step back.
The second exit, the one with the greatest weight, was that of Rubiales. Temporarily disabled by FIFA, the Andalusian announced that he was leaving the presidency of the Spanish Federation last Sunday. A resignation that came late and without any sign of regret for his behavior towards Jenni Hermoso. Several of the people who participated in the pressure on the Pachuca player remain in the federation structure. These are those responsible for communication who sent false statements by the footballer, as well as Andreu Camps, to the press. The general secretary of the RFEF has been Rubiales' right-hand man all these years and one of the most inflexible people in the conversations with the footballers when the '15' conflict broke out.
Now it is the Federation that must make a move. They are talking to the players, they say from the Federation, and Montse Tomé's presentation will be delayed until at least this Saturday. It was scheduled for this Friday at 4 p.m. in Las Rozas, when the list of those called up was also scheduled to be announced, which has not occurred either. Spain debuts in the Nations League, which gives access to the Paris Olympic Games, next Friday before Sweden, in Göteborg. They will also face Switzerland in Córdoba on Tuesday the 26th.
