The national football team of Spain, whose members were part of the World Cup winning squad, have agreed to end their boycott of the team after the country’s football federation, RFEF, promised to make immediate and profound changes, including a reshuffling of its top management.
The decision was reached after more than seven hours of discussions at a hotel in Oliva, involving players, RFEF officials, the National Sports Council (CSD), and the women’s players’ union FUTPRO.
As part of the deal to end the boycott, between six and nine senior officials of the football federation will be asked to leave their jobs or will be sacked.
The players had stated that they would not represent Spain until there were further changes at the federation, which had worsened after former RFEF boss Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup presentation ceremony.
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Consequently, a joint commission will be created between RFEF, CSD, and players to follow up on the agreements, which will be signed the following day.
The players had expressed their concern about the need for profound changes in the RFEF, which the federation has committed to making immediately.
The first measure to be taken by the RFEF was to remove the adjective “female” from the women’s national team’s official brand to harmonise it with the men’s squad, and both will now be known as the “Spanish national football team.”
The remaining changes have yet to be disclosed, but the federation has pledged to give players a ‘safe environment.’
The Women’s Nations League will determine which teams from Europe qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and Spain is set to make their debut against Sweden in Gothenburg on Friday before playing against Switzerland in Cordoba on Sept. 26.
