- Olga Carmona does not know if the Spanish players will return from the strike
- Luis Rubiales has resigned but players will discuss next steps together
Olga Carmona did not say whether the Spanish women’s team would remain on strike, with their next match scheduled for September 22.
The World Cup-winning goalscorer said he would “see what happens”, even after the resignation of disgraced former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.
More than 80 Spain players, including all 23 of the World Cup squad, have said they will not play until Rubiales resigns after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the mouth without her consent after the final triumph.
Spanish prosecutors filed charges of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales after Hermoso formally filed a sexual assault complaint. He faces a prison sentence of up to four years.
Even after Rubiales’ departure, the future of the national team remains uncertain. “There have been several changes. We have a new coach, but first of all we have to wait for the next team and see what happens,” Hermoso said. El Hormiguero, via Football Espana.
Spain’s World Cup hero Olga Carmona has left open the question of whether Spain’s players will return from strike for next week’s match.
Rubiales (right) hugged Hermoso as she collected her medal after Spain beat England in the Women’s World Cup final last month, prompting a strike by the women’s team.
The resignation of “Rubiales” is very recent and we will have to talk about it among ourselves and see what happens.
The next Spanish team is expected to be revealed on Friday by new manager Montse Tome.
Carmona continued: “Really what we want, we have just seen it, with the example that we were world champions. What we want is to continue the growth of women’s football.
“We want to benefit from the conditions that we had at this World Cup, I think, and we were very comfortable because the Federation bent over backwards, and I think that also helped us to achieve what we have accomplished.
“We must therefore continue on this path of growth and improvement to be able to develop our profession to the highest level.”
One of the main criticisms coming from the players’ camp was the lack of professionalism. World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda, a long-time ally of Rubailes, has been sacked, but they clearly want to see more systemic changes.
The Spanish Football Federation faced heavy criticism for its handling of the saga, it took Rubiales about three weeks to leave his post.
Rubiales has since resigned as president of the Spanish FA, as the players wanted, but it is not clear that this will be enough to bring them back.
Although they released a statement calling his behavior “totally unacceptable” and saying they were “embarrassed,” Rubiales initially received a lot of support when he insisted he would not resign.
The Spanish men’s team stood alongside their women’s counterparts, criticizing Rubiales’ “unacceptable behavior”.
Today, Tuesday, he still maintains his innocence, saying he kissed Hermoso like he would kiss one of his daughters.
FIFA is pushing for him to be banned from football for 15 years.
