Jenni Hermoso absent from first Spain Women's squad since World Cup win to 'protect' her after Luis Rubiales scandal
Jenni Hermoso one of eight of Spain Women's World Cup-winning squad absent from new head coach Montserrat Tome's first squad to face Sweden and Switzerland; squad had gone on strike in support of Hermoso after she was kissed by then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales after World Cup final
Monday 18 September 2023 17:43, UK
Jenni Hermoso has been left out of Spain Women's first squad since the World Cup final kiss row which ended with Luis Rubiales' resignation.
Hermoso was kissed on the lips by the then Spanish FA (RFEF) president during the celebrations after beating England 1-0 on August 26, and went on strike alongside all of her World Cup-winning team-mates in protest.
Rubiales, who was already under suspension by FIFA, finally resigned his post on September 10, days after controversial Spain head coach Jorge Vilda was also sacked by interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha. He was given a restraining order banning him from going within 200m of Hermoso on Friday.
New head coach Montserrat Tome told reporters she had chosen to omit Hermoso from her first squad for her own benefit after almost a month of intense public scrutiny, but suggested she would return to the team in future.
«We stand with Jenni,» she said. «We believe that the best way to protect her is like this, but we are counting on Jenni.»
Last Friday, 21 of the 23 players involved in the tournament — including Hermoso — demanded further change in the RFEF, but did not specify whether they would continue to remain on strike.
«The changes made are not enough for the players to feel safe, where women are respected, where there is support for women's football and where we can maximise our potential,» they wrote.
Tome, who had previously served as Vilda's assistant, had
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