Jenni Hermoso has given a stinging response to new Spain coach Montse Tome’s claim that she did not call the forward into her squad for her own protection.
Hermoso, who has accused the former Spanish football federation [RFEF] president Luis Rubiales of sexual assault after being kissed on the lips in the aftermath of the World Cup final was omitted from Tome’s initial squad list, with the former assistant to ex-head coach Jorge Vilda saying: “We believe the best way to Protecting her is like that.”
However, Hermoso has responded with a scathing statement on social media, asking: “Protect me from what? And from whom?
“We have been looking for protection against the RFEF for weeks – months even – but it has never come. The people who are now asking us to trust them are the same ones who today announced the list of players who have asked NOT to be drafted.”
Hermoso also says it is clear “nothing has changed” at the RFEF after her teammates received international call-ups on Monday, despite already expressing their intention to boycott.
The Spanish players, who have been named in Tome’s squad for Friday’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland next Tuesday, have said they are taking legal advice as they consider whether to attend their training camp on Tuesday morning.
A statement – co-signed on Friday by 39 players, including Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and Hermoso – declared that they would not play for their national team again until there were further, structural changes at the RFEF to improve matters for women improve in football. football. The players feel that this statement has been ignored by the RFEF.
The RFEF issued a statement on Monday calling on the players to join them as they pledged to make changes, saying: “We guarantee a safe environment for the players and we strive for a climate of mutual trust so that We can work together and ensure that women’s football progresses even more strongly.”
Hermoso responded by saying: “Let’s be clear: it was claimed that the environment within the federation would be safe for my colleagues to rejoin, but at the press conference it was announced that they did not call me as a means to to protect. . Protect me from what?
“The players are certain that this is yet another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate and threaten us with legal repercussions and economic sanctions. It is yet more irrefutable evidence that shows that nothing has changed even today.
“I would like to once again express my full support to my colleagues who are surprised and forced to respond to a new unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the RFEF. This is why we compete and why we do it this way.”
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