The Spanish Women’s Football Team: Controversy and Conflict Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations

2023-09-20 14:37 United News Network 24 Hours Around the Corner Members of the Spanish women’s national team who were forced to return to team training.Photo/AFP

【2023. 9. 20 Spain】

Is this the case after sexual harassment?The Spanish women’s football team’s recruitment order forces them to return to the team, ostracizing victims in the name of “protection”

“The Spanish national team, which hurts female players, says it wants to protect the players?” The aftermath of the #MeToo storm that broke out due to the forced kissing incident of the Spanish women’s national team continues, even the president of the Spanish Football Association who forcibly kissed the players at the World CupRubialesShe finally resigned under the pressure of public opinion, but the layers of abuses of the Football Association still made many female football players refuse to return to the national team. However, on September 18, the Spanish national team issued a call-up order that shocked the whole country, imposing huge fines and suspensions. 20 players who signed a boycott of the national team returned to the team, causing many players to publicly express their dissatisfaction and helplessness, and the player who was forcibly kissedHermosoBeing excluded in the name of “protection”, she publicly criticized the Football Association and the national team on the 19th. This move means that even after nearly a month of turmoil, the harsh environment that prevents female players from playing football safely has not changed at all.

The Women’s Football Nations League hosted by UEFA is about to begin, and the Spanish national team is recruiting players to return to the team and start training. However, the Spanish national team, which had previously won the Women’s Football World Cup, was disqualified because of the appearance of midfielder Jennifer Hermoso at the award ceremony. ) was forcibly kissed by Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), sparking anger in Spain and among players. 81 Spanish players, including 23 winning members of the Spanish women’s national team (including Hermoso), Chinese female football players signed a petition calling on Rubiales to resign, otherwise he will not play for the Spanish national team.

Rubiales initially insisted that the kiss was consensual and refused to resign many times. However, he finally resigned on September 10 under overwhelming pressure from public opinion, an investigation from FIFA, and the loss of support from the federation’s allies. Announced his resignation; Rubiales is also facing legal investigation in Spain, and the court has banned him from coming within 200 meters of Hermoso.

On September 4, 2023, people protested against the incident of Rubiales forcibly kissing Hermoso in Plaza San Jaime, Barcelona, ​​Spain…

As for the head coach of the national team, who had caused dissatisfaction among the players even before the Women’s World Cup and jointly called for his resignation.Wilda(Jorge Vilda), was also dismissed on September 6. RFEF did not explain the reason for the dismissal. However, during the player’s “exclusion” scandal, Vilda, a close confidant of Rubiales, only retained his position with the support of RFEF. , so when the forced kiss incident spread, Wilda was also one of the targets of Spanish public opinion.

However, even if Rubiales resigned, 39 Spanish female football players still issued a public statement on September 15 that they would continue to boycott the national team. The reason is that the practices of the national team and the Football Association are still not enough to allow players to play with peace of mind. The statement states:

“The changes that have taken place so far are not enough to make players think that the national team is a safe place, a safe environment where women are respected and the commitment to women’s football is upheld, so that we can perform at our best… Spain The players of the team are all professional players, and we are proud to wear the team jersey and lead the country to the highest honors. For this reason, we think it is time to show that the current situation and practice of the national team, in the football world or society, It’s grossly inappropriate and the structure needs to change, and we do this so that the next generation can enjoy the more equal game we deserve.”

Specific calls in the statement include calls for a reorganization of the Spanish Football Federation, the resignation of the interim president, a revamp of the women’s football organization and more – but as the Women’s Nations League approaches, the new national team coachTomei(Montse Tomé) called up the national team lineup. Among the 39 people who signed the joint statement, 20 people received call-up orders, 15 of whom were World Cup-winning members.

According to Spanish sports law, unless unable to compete due to injury, athletes must respond to national team call-ups. If they refuse, they will face a fine of up to 30,000 euros and a ban in Spain of 2 to 15 years (including a ban on representing the club). In the competition, many members of the Spanish national team played for La Liga teams, and the ban will have a great impact on the players’ personal careers).

The Spanish women’s national team won the 2023 New Zealand-Australia World Cup, but the joy of winning was overshadowed by a forced kiss incident. Picture/Faxin…

Facing the threat of punishment, the players who were called up had no choice but to return to the national team for training. On September 19, many players from Madrid, Barcelona and other places went to Valencia to meet up.Spanish media photographed the female football players on the bus heading to the national team training camp with expressionless faces, while the national team goalkeeperRodriguez(Misa Rodríguez) When asked by the media in a Madrid hotel if she was happy to return to the national team, she answered directly: “No.”

Also expressing dissatisfaction was the two-time Golden Globe winnerPutras(Alexia Putellas), when she was interviewed at Barcelona Airport, she was asked about her feelings about returning to the national team. Putellas replied:

“It’s bad, but what else can be done?”

The call-up order for the Spanish national team was issued on September 18. The players immediately issued a statement in response, emphasizing that “the boycott still exists” and expressing regret for “being once again in a situation we do not want to be in.” The statement also stated that the players will explore legal avenues ——This means that even though the players have gone to the national team training camp one after another, there are still doubts whether Spain’s games originally scheduled to face Sweden on September 22 and Switzerland on September 26 can proceed smoothly——The results of the league, the relationship Whether the Spanish national team can qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Hermoso, who was at the center of the storm and was forcibly kissed, did not receive a call-up order. Only 8 members of the winning team were not called up. Apart from Hermoso, 3 of them suffered from injuries and 1 hung up his boots. retire.

The female soccer players on the bus heading to the national team training camp had expressionless faces. Photo/Twitter video When the national team goalkeeper Rodriguez was asked by the media in a Madrid hotel if he was happy to return to the national team, he answered directly…

Tomei claimed that Hermoso was excluded from the national team roster to “protect her.” However, Hermoso issued a statement on the 19th to refute this statement:

“Protect me from what? From whom?”

Hermoso noted:

“We have been seeking protection from the Spanish Football Federation for weeks, even months, but to no avail. Those who ask us to trust them are the ones who issued the call-ups… The players are convinced that this is a schism. and manipulative tactics in order to intimidate us with legal consequences and financial penalties, which is irrefutable proof that even today, nothing has changed (for the Spanish Football Federation).”

In response to the Spanish Football Association’s move, the Spanish government stated on September 19 that it would intervene and try to find a solution. Spanish Sports Minister Víctor Francos said: “The government wants the Football Association to have a dialogue with the players and provide them with room for maneuver. ..yesterday we made a fool of ourselves as a country.” (we made a fool of ourselves as a country.)

Tomei, the new coach of the Spanish women’s national team.Photo/European News Agency

Francos still expressed hope that the players would agree to the call-up, pointing out: “If they are absent, the government has to take action, and that is to act according to the law, which is unfortunate for me, I never want to do this, but the law is the law and sports The law has the final say…I feel like the Football Association is leaving their problems to the government.”

Francos also pointed out that he has talked with some players and the emotions received from the players are not resentment, but sadness and exhaustion, so he hopes to support him; he expects to meet with more players on the 19th, the “Guardian” reported, If an agreement can be reached between the authorities and the players to avoid sanctions, most members of the national team may leave immediately.

The call-up list was originally scheduled to be announced on September 15, but it was postponed because the Spanish Football Association failed to reach an agreement with the players. After the announcement, many players who were called up were still shocked. The Spanish media called the release of the call-up order. “Absolute chaos.”

In the face of more disturbances, RFEF did not respond publicly. It only stated that the Football Association itself needs to make “structural changes” before issuing the call-up order on the 18th, stating: “The Football Association, society and the players themselves are all moving towards the same goal: revitalization. and embarking on a new phase, and football itself will be the biggest beneficiary of the entire process.” However, the use of punitive pressure to force players to return to the team, as well as the unfriendly and unsafe environment that has not changed in the eyes of the players, make RFEF’s statement the same Empty words also give the outside world a glimpse of the structural shortcomings that are difficult to shake in Spanish football.

Former Spanish Football Federation President Rubiales.Photo/European News Agency

Text/Lai Yun

Spain in the past 24 hours

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2023-09-20 06:37:34

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