Jenni Hermoso’s Exclusion from Spain’s Women’s Soccer Team Roster Sparks Controversy: Unveiling the Reasons Behind
In an unexpected twist, Jenni Hermoso, the illustrious World Cup champion, has conspicuously been left out of Spain’s women’s national football team roster for the upcoming fixtures against Sweden and Switzerland. Ironically, 20 players who had collectively refused to participate have made the cut.
The Coach’s Unconventional Decision
When shedding light on the rationale behind Jenni Hermoso’s omission, the recently appointed head coach, Montse Tomé, made a rather unconventional assertion, stating that this move was the “best way to protect her,” as reported by USA Today.
Tomé expounded, “First and foremost, let it be known that we stand by Jenni in every aspect. We firmly believe that this approach is the best course of action to safeguard her interests.”
Jenni Hermoso’s Baffling Response
Nonetheless, Hermoso responded with palpable bewilderment. In a statement shared both in Spanish and English on her social media platforms, she posed the question, “Protect me from what?”
She articulated, “Let’s be unequivocal: it was asserted today that the atmosphere within the federation would be secure for my teammates to return, yet paradoxically, during the same press conference, it was announced that I wouldn’t be called up purportedly for my protection.” Hermoso’s statement alluded to concerns about the players’ well-being.
A Controversial Incident from the Past Looms Large
To fully grasp the conundrum surrounding this decision, one must revisit the past. Following her team’s World Cup triumph over England, then-RFEF boss Luis Rubiales was captured kissing several players on their faces, Hermoso included, during the jubilant celebrations. This incident set off a firestorm of controversy.
Hermoso queried, “Protect me from what? And from whom? We’ve been searching for weeks – even months – for protection from the RFEF, to no avail.”
She went on to assert, “The very individuals who now implore us to place our trust in them are the very ones who today disclosed the list of players who have explicitly requested NOT to be summoned.”
The Coach’s Perspective
Coach Tomé’s decision to omit Hermoso from the squad is closely tied to the uproar surrounding Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss following the World Cup final. In the aftermath, Rubiales staunchly defended his actions during an emergency assembly, painting himself as a victim of “social assassination” and “false feminism,” according to the New York Times.
The Team’s Stand
Hermoso divulged that her fellow teammates perceived the decision not to call them up for practice as a deliberate strategy to “intimidate” them. She contended, “The players are firmly convinced that this is yet another tactic of division and manipulation, aimed at intimidating and coercing us through legal repercussions and economic sanctions,” she added, “It serves as further incontrovertible evidence that, even today, nothing has truly changed.”
A Display of Solidarity
Hermosa rounded off her statement by offering unwavering support to her teammates who found themselves compelled to react to yet another unfortunate situation precipitated by the individuals making decisions within the RFEF.
FIFA’s Intervention
Before Tomé revealed the Spanish team’s roster, FIFA stepped into the fray, suspending Rubiales for 90 days in light of the controversial kiss, which Hermoso asserted was unsolicited. FIFA clarified that this suspension would prohibit Rubiales “from all football-related activities at the national and international levels” and also prevent him “from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team, Ms. Jennifer Hermoso, or her close associates.”
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the future of women’s football in Spain and whether the RFEF will genuinely commit to creating a safe and trustworthy environment for its players.
