Spanish women's football team navigates turbulence and demands for equality

Posted : 22 September 2023

The Spanish women's national football team has been in the spotlight due to a series of controversies and demands for improved conditions. Despite their recent World Cup victory, tensions within the team and with the Spanish Football Association (FA) have boiled over. The players were initially reluctant to participate in their upcoming match against Sweden in the Nations League as part of their protest.

After lengthy negotiations and a seven-hour meeting, the players and the association reached a memorandum of understanding that promises significant changes and improvements. This includes creating a more professional environment, dismissing associates of former FA president Luis Rubiales, and addressing the conditions of the women's team to match those of the men's team.

The players' association sees this as a significant step toward gender equality, but acknowledges that there is still a long way to go. They initially planned a boycott to push for their demands.

Six senior players, including Alexia Fotias and team captain Olga Carmona, played a pivotal role in pushing for change. The decision to boycott was not taken lightly but was seen as a necessary step to initiate change within the team and the association.

The Spanish women's team has received support from their Swedish counterparts, who were willing to support the boycott if necessary. Despite the tensions, the Spanish players have expressed their determination to fight for their rights and a more respectful treatment.

The new coach, Montesa Tomé, who is the first woman to lead the Spanish national team, may be short-lived in her role. It's reported that she will be removed from her position after the next two Nations League matches at the players' request. They claim she put them in an impossible position.

A notable absence from the squad for these matches is Jenny Hermoso, who gained worldwide attention when Luis Rubiales kissed her on the lips during the trophy-raising ceremony after the World Cup. The players' decision not to include Hermoso in the squad is seen as an attempt to protect her from any potential harm within the association.

The Spanish players' protest has shed light on the issues of professionalism, equality, and respect within women's football. While they have taken significant steps toward achieving their goals, the journey to true equality continues.

Tonight's match against Sweden is set to be a significant moment in this ongoing saga, and the world will be watching to see how the Spanish players perform and whether their demands for change are truly being met.

Spanish women's football team navigates turbulence and demands for equality

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