Forced kiss: most Spanish players return to selection after agreement with federation

“Series of Agreements”. Most of the Spanish national team players who went on strike after the Rubiales affair have agreed to rejoin selection for the Nations League meeting with Sweden and Switzerland following an agreement with the Federation and the government.

“We have reached a number of agreements that will be developed and signed tomorrow by the Federation and the Supreme Sports Council,” Secretary of State for Sports Victor Francos told the press on Wednesday. He clarified that of the 23 players called up, only two expressed a desire to leave. He did not reveal the names of the two players in question, but stressed that they would not be sanctioned.

“The players have told us of their concerns about the need to make deep changes to the RFEF, and the federation has promised that these changes will happen immediately,” Victor Francos said on Wednesday. According to the Spanish press, one of these immediate changes could be the departure of Secretary General Andreu Camps.

He said the agreement plans to develop Spanish legislation on “gender policies, progress in equal pay, in the structures of sport and in particular women’s football.”

Strong tensions with the Federation.

The announcement comes after intense tension between the striking players and the federation. They are demanding deep structural changes within the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), considering the resignation of its president Luis Rubiales after the forced kiss of Jenny Hermoso, as well as the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized, as insufficient.

Coach Monse Tome sprung a surprise on Monday by announcing a list of fifteen world champions and other players who asked not to be selected until the Federation was completely reorganized, but not Jenny Hermoso.

The players took this challenge as an obligation under threat of sanctions if they refused. Spain’s 2022 Sports Law states that failure to appear for national team call-ups is a “very serious” offence. Potential fines range from €3,000 to €30,000, and players could even lose their license for up to five years.

“Come and we commit to making what you ask possible,” Victor Francos later said on Spanish public television, adding that “if a player does not feel comfortable (…), the most normal thing is that he is not they call, but they call another.” , excluding the possibility of applying sanctions.