Spain squad to stay on strike despite Rubiales exit

Despite the recent changes, the Spain players are not ready to return to the national team.

The Spanish women’s team continues to be on strike following the exits of Luis Rubiales and Jorge Vilda.

41 players have told the Royal Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] they are not ready to return. They feel the recent changes are not enough.

That’s according to EFE, which states this boycott involves all 23 footballers of last month’s World Cup-winning squad.

The announcement comes as Montse Tomé, the new head coach of the women’s team, prepares to announce her first squad on Friday.

Spain will compete in the Women’s Nations League next week. They’ll go up against Sweden on September 22 in Gothenburg, before hosting Switzerland in Córdoba four days later.

Why are they still on strike?

The strike is in response to ousted RFEF president Rubiales’ behavior in the aftermath of the 1-0 World Cup final victory over England.

Rubiales is facing sexual assault charges for his unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso. The forward says the kiss was without consent and she felt like the victim of an aggressive act.

Adding to the list, Rubiales is facing another charge of coercion. The former president is accused of pressuring Hermoso and her relatives to say that she justified and approved of his actions.

He also grabbed his crotch, hugged and kissed other players, and threw another over his shoulders.

FIFA and Spain’s top sports court [TAD] have opened their own investigations into Rubiales’ conduct after the final.

As part of new structural changes to bring the players back, RFEF has sacked Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Vilda.

But the players are committed to making long-term changes. They are demanding consensus, courage, and leadership from the institutions to ensure that no woman, inside or outside of football, ever has to experience a situation of disrespect or abuse.

“We will not stop here,” said midfielder Alexia Putellas earlier this week.

“Those who fought before us deserve it, we deserve it for the effort we make every day, and all the girls and boys who today dream of being like us deserve it. We will not fail you.”