Jenni Hermoso the Spanish women’s team player engulfed in the World Cup final kissing scandal, has accused the Federation of threats and intimidation.
This comes at the back of the new national team coach Montse Tome, calling up a number of players who took part in Spain’s victory at the World Cup.
The players had initially indicated that they would not wish to play for the national team as nothing had changed despite the sacking of the federation president Luis Rubiales as well as the national team coach.
The players had said they wouldn’t come back until their demands for deep reforms and new leadership in the federation were met.
Coach Montse Tome on Monday called 23 players for an international assignment 15 of whom were in the first squad of the World Cup team.
However, on Monday evening, a surprising development occurred as the players issued a statement expressing their refusal to accept their call-ups.
33-year-old forward Hermoso was not among the 15 players.
During a press conference, Montse Tome, the head coach, explained that the decision to exclude the forward from the latest squad was made with her well-being in mind.
Hermoso then released a separate statement on social media, saying the RFEF has demonstrated that nothing has changed since Rubiales resigned from his post last week.
“We have spent weeks, months, searching for protection from inside the RFEF that never came. she wrote.
“The same people who ask us to trust them are those who today announced a squad with players who asked NOT to be called up.
“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 more irrefutable proof that shows even today, that nothing has changed.
“I want to once again show my full support to my colleagues who have been caught by surprise and forced to react to another unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the RFEF.
The is amidst a storm in the Spanish football scene, where Former president Luis Rubiales is facing an assault allegation for un-consensually kissing Hermoso on the lips.
