Players demand changes in RFEF leadership
The Spanish women’s national soccer team has threatened to boycott the upcoming matches unless the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) makes significant changes in its leadership and culture. The players issued a statement last week, saying they would not play for the national team while people who “incited, hid or applauded attitudes that go against women’s dignity” remained part of the federation.
The statement came after Luis Rubiales, the former RFEF president, kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup presentation ceremony on Aug. 20. His actions sparked outrage among the players, government officials and many in wider Spanish society, and raised questions over sexism in sport. Rubiales resigned on Sept. 10 and faced a complaint of sexual assault over the kiss.
RFEF agrees to sack or replace senior officials
According to a federation source, between six and nine senior officials of the RFEF will be invited to leave their jobs or will be sacked as part of a deal to end the player boycott. The source said that some of the names were put forward by the players themselves, and that the personnel changes would take effect soon.
The deal was reached after a marathon meeting between the players, their FUTPRO union, members of the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD), and the RFEF’s head of women’s football Rafael Del Amo, which ended early on Wednesday. The meeting was held in a hotel outside Valencia, where the team’s training camp had been moved to shield the players from media scrutiny.
Players to play in Sweden after agreement
The players had asked to be left out of Friday’s Nation’s League match in Gothenburg – Spain’s first as world champions – after being included in the squad against Sweden. Under Spanish law, they faced sanctions including fines of up to 30,000 euros ($32,000) and a de facto playing ban of two to 15 years if they had refused to take the field.
However, after reaching an agreement with the RFEF, the players have decided to play in Sweden as scheduled. CSD President Victor Francos said that a joint commission would be set up between RFEF, CSD and the players to follow up on the deal. “The players have expressed their concern about the need for profound changes in the RFEF, which has committed to making these changes immediately,” he said.
RFEF removes “female” from women’s team name
As part of its efforts to promote a more egalitarian concept of soccer, the RFEF announced that it would remove the word “female” from the women’s national team’s official brand. From now on, both teams will be known as “Spanish national soccer team”.
“Beyond it being a symbolic step, we want it to be a change of concept and the recognition that soccer is soccer, no matter who plays it,” RFEF President Pedro Rocha said. He added that this would also harmonize the team names with other countries that do not use gender distinctions.
