“Spain Players Extend Strike Despite New Manager Appointment, Citing ‘Insufficient’ Measures”

A significant segment of the 79 Spain women’s national team players is poised to persist in their strike action, firmly advocating for substantive changes within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that would address concerns in the women’s game. This resolute stance follows the recent kiss scandal involving the suspended President Luis Rubiales, which prompted the players, including Jenni Hermoso, to sign a statement indicating their unavailability for selection until substantial transformations within the Federation are implemented.

The managerial landscape has already witnessed changes in response to the players’ demands. Jorge Vilda, the former head coach, has been dismissed by the RFEF, making way for his former Assistant Manager, Montse Tome. Simultaneously, the temporary suspension of Rubiales has led to the appointment of Pedro Rocha as the interim president.

However, according to reports from Cadena SER, the players remain steadfast in their strike action, asserting that the changes introduced thus far are insufficient to warrant their return to the national team. Relevo confirms that while a unanimous consensus among all 79 players, or even the 23 in the World Cup-winning squad, has not been reached, many players continue to harbor reservations.

While a small faction of players has expressed enthusiasm over Tome’s appointment as head coach, a larger contingent perceives her as a continuity option that does not fulfill the desired change they had demanded. Additionally, there has been no appointment to the vacant Sporting Director role, previously occupied by Vilda, further fueling the perception that the changes remain superficial. Rocha, who has been making decisions in his capacity as interim president, was Rubiales’ vice-president before his appointment, amplifying concerns about the lack of genuine transformation.

The situation is approaching a critical juncture, with two matches against Sweden and Switzerland fast approaching and the squad set to be announced in the coming week. The impending Olympic Games in Paris next summer add an additional layer of complexity, with the world’s eyes firmly fixed on the outcome of this standoff. The players have made it abundantly clear that while certain individuals may be implicated in the issues at hand, their concerns extend beyond specific individuals to encompass broader standards. The players have unequivocally deemed the previous standards as unacceptable and are steadfast in their commitment to fostering meaningful change within the realm of women’s football in Spain.