Jenni Hermoso returns to Spain squad for first time since Luis Rubiales scandal

18 October 2023 , 17:30

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Jenni Hermoso will return to the Spain squad for the upcoming matches (Image: AP)

Jenni Hermoso has been named in the Spain squad for the first time since winning the World Cup.

The recall comes after ex-Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the World Cup trophy presentation, following Spain's 1-0 win over England.

During the medal ceremony Hermoso was kissed directly on the lips by the president. Hermoso insisted the kiss was not consensual but Rubiales maintained it was before he eventually resigned. Rubiales was then banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso after she filed a legal complaint.

Earlier this month, the former president continued to plead his innocence in Spain's National Court amid the ongoing probe over the incident.

Spain are set to play Italy and Switzerland in the UEFA Women's Nations League at the end of this month. The Spanish have also changed manager since the World Cup with Jorge Vilda, an ally of Rubiales, fired and replaced by Montse Tome.

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Tome, who was part of Vilda's backroom team, didn't select Hermoso for the September international break, but has now decided to bring her back into the fold. At the time of those fixtures, Tome said she left the forward out to "protect her."

Spanish players initially threatened a boycott of last month's friendly against Sweden - in their first game since the tournament final. But the players called it off after reaching an agreement with the RFEF. Before that game players of both teams stood together holding a banner reading "se acabo" which translates to English as "it's over", referring to the scandal.

Hermoso has played since the World Cup finals but only for her domestic team, Pachuca in Mexico. Meanwhile, legal proceedings against Rubiales remain ongoing.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 20: Jorge Vilda, Head Coach of Spain, stands with Federation President Luis Rubiales during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Hermoso said her image has been tarnished following the unsolicited kiss, adding that "no one protected" her after the incident. In her testimony, recorded early in September and broadcast by commercial channel Telecinco last week, Hermoso said that she "clearly felt disrespected" as a player and a person. She added: "As an employee of that federation, no one protected me."

Hermoso is the all-time women's team top goalscorer having scored 51 goals for her country, winning 101 caps in the process. She missed a penalty in the second half of the final, saved by England's Mary Earps, although Spain still emerged victorious thanks to an Olga Carmona strike.

Jack Lacey-Hatton