Jenni Hermoso returned this Monday to the training of the Spanish selection for the first time since the affair of the forced kiss of the former president of the Football Federation Luis Rubiales on the evening of the world coronation of La Roja, the 20 August.
The 33-year-old player, who despite herself has become a symbol in the fight for equality between men and women, took part in collective training in Las Rozas, in the suburbs of Madrid, to the applause of dozens of small girls who had braved bad weather to witness the return of their star.
The number 10 of La Roja, who plays in Pachuca, in the Mexican championship, was selected by the new coach Montse Tomé for the two upcoming Nations League matches, Friday in Italy then October 31 in Switzerland.
For her first two meetings at the head of Spain, Montse Tomé decided not to call her, believing that it was “the best way to protect her” while the Spanish federation was trying to emerge from the crisis. This choice was criticized by several players, starting with Jenni Hermoso. “Protect myself from what, or who? “, asked the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player.
On August 20, in the minutes following La Roja’s world title in Sydney, Luis Rubiales kissed her by surprise on the mouth. Under pressure, the former strongman of Spanish football, who always claimed that this kiss was consensual, ended up resigning. Charged with “sexual assault” by the Spanish courts, he is prohibited from approaching within 200 m of the player.
A compromise with the Federation signed after a strike
The forced kiss scandal, which caused international outrage, also led the Spanish Federation (RFEF) to dismiss several of its executives, including the coach of the women’s national team Jorge Vilda, close to Luis Rubiales, replaced by Montse Tomé.
The players, the government and the RFEF signed a compromise on Monday for the creation of a joint commission which follows the agreement reached to end the strike of the majority of world champions in September.
The text promises female footballers the continuation of the “changes” underway and the opening of “an era of dialogue”, with the interim president of the RFEF Pedro Rocha assuring that he was “trying to resolve everything” and that “his door will always be open to talk about any issues.”
