Spain confirm squad with Hermoso decision made and stars included amid boycott

18 September 2023 , 15:29

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New coach of Spain's female football team Montse Tome during her squad announcement conference at the Ciudad del Futbol training facilities in Las Rozas de Madrid (Image: Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

Spanish national team manager Montse Tome has announced her squad for the upcoming Nations League campaign with 15 of the 23 World Cup-winning squad included, as well as the previously ostracised Mapi Leon and Patricia Guijarro, in what appears to mark an end to the players' boycott of national team duties.

Tome, who took over the helm after the dismissal of contentious manager Jorge Vilda, was due to announce her squad for the country's two upcoming Nations League fixtures against Sweden and Switzerland on Friday.

But the decision was postponed after 39 players, including 21 of the 23-woman World Cup squad, signed a joint letter condemning the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and demanding "real structural changes".

The boycott arrived days after shamed RFEF president Luis Rubiales stepped down from his post in another extraordinary development in the wake of the furore over the Spanish chief's allegedly unsolicited kiss on striker Jennifer Hermoso during the Women's World Cup trophy celebration.

And while the departure of Rubiales, who faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, was viewed as a significant victory for the #SeAcabo movement, the footballers have doubled down on their mission to enact fundamental and structural changes throughout a federation they deem to be inappropriately hampering the development of women's football.

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Hours before Tome's squad announcement on Monday, the RFEF reportedly urged the 39 striking players to reconsider their boycott.

And it appears the boycott has come to an end as a number of striking players were included in her final squad list, including Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey, along with recalls for Leon and Guijarro who were not part of the World Cup triumph due to prior strike action against former La Roja boss Vilda.

Hermoso was not included in Tome's squad.

Jennifer Hermoso has not been included in the latest Spain Women's squad (AP)

Asked at a news conference if she had spoken to the players, Tome said she had but would not reveal what she had discussed with them.

"It's the start of a new phase, the clock is ticking. There is nothing behind us and we really want to connect with these players," she said.

Among the demands the players made to the RFEF in their initial letter was the immediate dismissal of those who attempted to coerce Hermoso to appear in an apology video alongside Rubiales and former manager Jorge Vilda after the incident.

Megan Feringa