Inside Spanish women's football crisis as 81 players strike days after World Cup
Spain are newly crowned World champions - but they are also in deep crisis.
Captain Olga Carmona struck in the final last Sunday as La Roja defeated England 1-0 to claim a memorable first major trophy. But the teams' celebrations were marred by the latest incident in an ongoing civil war between the players and the Spanish FA - the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Less than a week after winning the biggest prize in the sport, Spain currently don't have a team. 81 female players have now gone on strike from the national side, reigniting the war.
The RFEF President Luis Rubiales is at the centre of the controversy after he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips and head when the team were presented with their medals after the win, in footage that quickly went viral on social media. The situation has since developed at a rapid rate.
Hermoso initially said on a streamed Instagram Live post that she "didn't like" the kiss. Subsequently, she then released an official statement to the Spanish press, stating that, "It was a completely spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning a World Cup."
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But on Wednesday Spain's record goalscorer demanded - via the FUTPRO union - that Rubiales “did not go unpunished” for the kiss. Rubiales still attracted widespread criticism for the incident with further imagery of the 46-year-old kissing Carmona after full-time later surfacing. FIFA announced they had placed him under investigation and that he would be subject to disciplinary hearings.
At this point Rubiales' position looked untenable. He was widely expected to resign on Friday during a speech at an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF.
Jenni Hermoso was kissed on her lips by Spain FA president Luis Rubiales (RTVE)Instead came an act of extraordinary defiance. Rubiales hit out at "false feminism" and a "social assassinatio n" of his character, while vowing to remain in post.
On five separate occasions he uttered the words "I will not resign." He rejected all calls for his removal and addressed the kiss by stating: "It was spontaneous, mutual and consensual. It was consensual. I have a great relationship with all the players and we had very affectionate moments in this tournament."
Reaction has been swift. Spain's World Cup-winning team have said they will not play any matches for the country until Rubiales has been removed from his job.
A total of 81 players, including Hermoso and all of the 23 players in the World Cup squad, signed a joint statement sent via their FUTPRO union demanding the removal of the federation leadership. In addition, Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias has also said he will not play for the men's national team again while Rubiales is in charge.
Spain lift the women's World Cup (PA)Meanwhile, Hermoso released a fresh statement saying that "in no moment" did she consent to a kiss. This surely appeared the end of Rubiales. But rather than bow to the pressure, the RFEF have hit back twice as hard.
The federation are threatening to sue both Hermoso for "lies" surrounding the kiss and the players that have signed the letter stating that they wouldn't' play until Rubiales left post. A statement from the organisation read: "The RFEF and Mr President will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself.
"The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions."
Luis Rubiales refused to resign on Friday (RFEF/AFP via Getty Images)This is far from the only battle between Spain's players and their national governing body in the last year. 12 players didn't even play in their World Cup triumph after signing a letter last year, following a Euro 2022 exit to England, that they would never play again for coach Jorge Vilda.
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At full-time in the semi-final win over Japan, while a handful celebrated with Vilda, others in red shirts appeared to keep their distance. It was a similar story after England were beaten in the final, with one viral social media clip showing the Spanish boss appearing to dance on his own, with nearby players ignoring him.
When the player revolt first took hold last year the federation, as they have with Rubiales, stood by Vilda. 15 players sent the organisation separate but identical emails asking not to be called up to the national team.
At that point, a golden generation of Spanish talent looked to have been destroyed. For record, the 15 individuals were: Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Ona Batlle, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, Sandra Panos, Claudia Pina, Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizagirre, Amaiur Sarriegi, Lucia Garcia, Leila Ouahabi, Laia Aleixandri and Andrea Pereira.
Each player wrote that their experiences had left an "important effect on my emotional state and by extension my health". They demanded "a clear commitment to a professional project with attention paid to all the aspects needed to get the best performance of this group of players". The email didn’t explicitly asked for Vilda to be removed, but it was clear this was not a happy ship.
Concerns were raised over training methods, treatment of players and inadequate facilities. A common issue was the team's preparation for matches, from arriving to host cities too late and making excessively lengthy journeys via bus rather than plane. Players were reportedly returning to their clubs in a worse condition than when they had left.
In addition, there were players who did not send emails, but did voice their support for the others, including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, Hermoso and then skipper Irene Paredes. Those listed included some of the very best players across the continent over the last decade.
Spain celebrate after winning World Cup (Morgan Hancock/REX/Shutterstock)
Spain players celebrate with the trophy (AFP via Getty Images)But Ana Alvarez, head of women's soccer at the federation, said players could only return to the setup if they apologised, adding that "the federation comes first". And, despite the chaos, the team found form going into the World Cup, winning 11 from 13 games.
Crucially some players did return to the fold, including Hermoso and Putellas. Then came further talks between Vilda, the federation and ‘las 15’ as the deadline for submitting the final squad came into view. In the end, eight of those who sent the original email were available for the squad selection.
Of that group, a high-quality trio made the cut. Ona Batlle, fresh from joining Barcelona from Manchester United, forward Mariona Caldentey and, most importantly, Aitana Bonmati. Bonmati was one of Barcelona’s best players en route to winning the Champions League last season.
The trio subsequently played a major role in the World Cup win, as Spain triumphed despite the majority of the rebels remaining at home. Bonmati was awarded the Golden Ball title for Player of the Tournament after the win over England.
Vilda has led Spain to their first World Cup victory (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Throughout the World Cup, Rubiales continued to back Vilda at every opportunity. After the semi-final win over Sweden, he said: “What we have endured is a lot. The questions have been asked of Jorge Vilda, who is a hard-working man, a world-class coach, who has turned down other federations that have offered more money and stayed with Spain.
“He has continued working with his people and not paid attention to those who wanted to destroy him.” A side story that has almost gone unnoticed this week due to the Presidents' behaviour, Rubiales has offered World Cup winning coach Jorge Vilda a new four-year contract with a bumper salary.
"You (Vilda) deserve it," he told the assembly on Friday. "I'm going to say it, now you were earning 170,000 euros, not half a million as they said. In women's football, you are the best coach in the world."
Whether either Rubiales or Vilda see out the next four years is another matter. Rubiales will not only have to survive intense external pressure, with dozens of protesters gathering on Friday outside Spanish football federation headquarters just outside Madrid demanding his removal, but also the FIFA investigation.
Luis RubialesBoth have remained defiant so far, but with 81 players refusing to pull on the La Roja jersey while Rubiales remains, something will have to give. And to add further fuel to the fire, the Spanish government is also now involved, announcing they have also begun legal proceedings, seeking to suspend Rubiales.
The entire episode leaves a sour taste on what should be the greatest moment in Spanish women's football history. That will only linger while Rubiales and Vilda remain.
At full-time after the win over England, many within the women's game wondered whether previous unrest would be swept under the carpet thanks to the success of the team. If the last week has shown anything, it is that this can't - and won't - be the case.
La Roja becoming World Champions with 12 quality players sat watching from home, was a remarkable achievement. But as things currently stand they don't have a team. Something has to give.
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