Montse Tome, the new coach for Spain’s women’s football team, has announced the selection of most of the players who led the country to victory in the Women’s World Cup last month.
This move is seen by many as an attempt to end the players’ boycott, which has been ongoing since a controversial incident involving a kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso by the country’s football federation (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales after the World Cup win.
Hermoso disputed the kiss’s consensual nature, sparking a nationwide debate about macho culture in sport.
While 15 of the 23-cup winning squad players were included in the list announced by Tome, Hermoso was not.
Two players, Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, who were not called up for the finals and had signed an open letter against then-coach Jorge Vilda, were also included.
However, it remains unclear if the players will end their boycott, as some only found out about their call-up via media reports.
Several players were reportedly surprised by the announcement, and those who refuse to join the squad could face fines of up to 30,000 euros ($32,000) and the suspension of their federation licence for two to 15 years, according to Spain’s Sports Act.
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Tome, who worked as Vilda’s assistant for five years, told a press conference that none of the players had requested not to be selected, though she declined to reveal what was discussed when she spoke to them.
She expressed confidence in the players’ professionalism, saying that they come from being world champions and love their profession.
Tome also hinted that Hermoso was left out of the squad due to the intense media attention she had received in the past month.
On Friday, a group of 39 players, including 21 out of the 23 in the cup-winning squad, said they wanted further changes at the football federation and would not return until there was a change in leadership.
Twenty out of the 39 were included in the squad for matches against Sweden on Friday and Switzerland next Tuesday in Spain’s debut in the UEFA Nations League, which will determine which European teams qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The federation, in a statement, acknowledged the need for “structural changes” and stated that it had to clarify who was responsible for the behaviour the players had brought to light.
Tome has expressed her hope that the players will answer the call to play, as it is the start of a new phase and the clock is ticking.
