A female revolt. Fifteen players showed “unavailable” to join the Spanish football team due to “mental health reasons”, after the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refused to fire coach Jorge Vilda (son of Angel Vilda, former Benfica fitness coach) in the Juup Heynckes era ), whom they accused of technical incompetence on September 1.
“I hereby inform you that due to the latest events in the Spanish national team and the situation that has arisen, facts of which you are aware and which significantly affect my emotional state and therefore my health, I am currently unable to be selected for our national team and I ask not to be called up until the situation is reversed.”
Here’s how, according to the RFEF, Ainhoa Moraza, Lola Gallardo (Atlético), Mapi Leon, Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmatí, Mariona Caldentey, Sandra Paños (Barcelona), Laia Aleixandri, Leila Ouahabi (Manchester City), Ona Batlle, Lucía García (Manchester United) ), Andrea Pereira (America from Mexico), Nerea Eizaguirre and Amaiur Sarriegi (Royal Society) reported the unavailability. Captains Jenni Hermoso and Irene Paredes did not agree with the resignation, but said they would join the fray, the officials said. The world.
The federation saw the position of the internationals as a “riot” and guaranteed that “it will not allow the players to question the continuity of the coach as such a decision is not within their purview”. The organization led by Jorge Rubiales warned in a statement that “it will not accept any pressure from any player to take action in the field of sports”.
In a very harsh statement, which can be seen as an expression of strength, the Spanish Federation recalled that “the selection is something non-negotiable” and that this unprecedented situation in the history of football does not give “dignity” to the fight. gives. The RFEF also recalled that, under current Spanish law, “failure to attend a national team call-up is a very serious offense and can lead to penalties ranging from two to five years of suspension”. However, “and contrary to the position of the players in question, the RFEF will not take any radical positions or put pressure on them simply by not calling them on”.
But goodwill has a deadline: “You can only return in the future if you admit your mistake and apologize.” They refused to do this yesterday, because they did not tolerate the “infantilization” tone used by the federation. And they asked: “Can anyone think that, eight months before a World Cup, a group of top players, as we consider ourselves, consider this decision, as it has been publicly defended, as a whim or blackmail?”
Alexia Putellas has joined the fray
During yesterday, the athletes responded with Loves shared the news on social networks, but finally released a statement, already signed by the best player in the world, Alexia Putellas, who did not send the letter stating that she could not be called because she was recovering from surgery. In the document, the footballers guarantee that they “never resigned” or “asked the coach to leave”, they only expressed “the unavailability” to represent Spain as long as the problems affecting them mentally are not reversed, in the importance “of future generations”.
The case has already reached the Supreme Sport Council, which said it “needs more information” and demanded “prudence” from the media of those involved, and also asked the footballers to “explain themselves”, in addition to criticizing the ” not adequate” way of dealing with them. The federation (Futpro) was silent, unlike Megan Rapinoe (best player in the world in 2019), who expressed support from the US.
Spanish public opinion seems suspicious of the reasons put forward. But Ana Álvarez, director of women’s football at the RFEF, assured that “no obscure case is hidden”. The manager was even “surprised” by the athletes citing mental health reasons, revealing that the coach is “surprised and disappointed” and will list for the next matches, with Sweden and the US, without the 15, “as they wish” .
The fight started on September 1, with the hard core of the team questioning the coach’s ability to increase the value of the players. According to them, the team has reached a point of stagnation so that eighth place in the FIFA rankings does not reach the level of the best teams.
Among the extremisms of the positions taken, both by the internationals and by the federation, it is no less radicalism of the coach. Vilda has a contract until 2024 (two more years option) and warned from the first sign of the uprising that he had no intention of relinquishing voluntarily. But how long will you accept the bad atmosphere of the resort?
Source: DN
