World Cup kiss: Jenni Hermoso accuses Spanish football federation of trying to ‘threaten’ players
- Football star says bosses are seeking to ‘intimidate’ World Cup champions players by calling them up against their will for Nations League matches
- Hermoso, who was kissed by former football chief Luis Rubiales following her team’s triumph in Sydney last month, was not included in the squad
Football star Jenni Hermoso has accused the Spanish federation of seeking to “intimidate and threaten” the World Cup champion players by calling them up against their will for two Nations League matches.
The Spain international, who was kissed by former Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales following her team’s triumph in Sydney on August 20, was not included in the squad but expressed her support for the rest of her teammates.
“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,” the player, currently with Mexican club Pachuca, said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
The Rubiales kiss caused international anger and shook the federation, leading to his resignation as well as the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda.
Vilda was replaced by his No 2, Montse Tome.
On Friday, 39 players, including 21 of the 23 World Cup players, said in a statement that the conditions were not right for their return to La Roja and called for more changes in various federation departments.
