The Spanish Federation appealed to female football players who refused to return to the national team

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has addressed female football players who refused to return to the national team. The statement was published on the organization’s website.

“We guarantee a safe environment for players and strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust in order to jointly ensure the further progress of women’s football,” the RFEF said, emphasizing that structural changes have already begun in the federation. The organization also noted the need to clarify each of the behavior and actions committed in the past weeks, and fairly distribute responsibility.

On September 15, it was reported that 23 female football players refused to return to the Spanish national team after a scandal with former RFEF president Luis Rubiales. The former head of the organization, who kissed team captain Jennifer Hermoso at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, has been charged with sexual assault and coercion.

At the awards ceremony, Rubiales put a medal on Hermoso and kissed the soccer player on the lips. This drew criticism from the media and Spanish politicians. After the scandal, Rubiales apologized and said that he did it without malicious intent.