Two players have left the Spanish training camp after the team held seven hours of showdown talks with their national association.
Defender Mapi Leon and midfielder Patri Guijarro are the only players to leave their team after the rest of the squad decided to end the boycott after a tumultuous month for the national team following their World Cup triumph. The pair, who also gave up their place at this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand, explained their reasons on Wednesday morning.
“It is a reality that our situation is different than that of the rest of our colleagues. We know there was no way to return. This is all a process. “We are happy because it is true that the changes are taking place,” Leon told reporters.
Guijarro added: “They are working on these changes.” Yesterday we managed to reach this mixed commission and we are with our colleagues. Obviously you’re not mentally fit to be there because of the way everything happened.”
The decision comes after new coach Montse Tomé named her first squad since Spain’s World Cup victory earlier this week, despite players announcing their intention to strike following the Luis Rubiales kiss-gate scandal last month.
Mapi Leon (right) and Patri Gujiarro (left) have left Spain’s training camp after crucial talks with their country’s football association
After a seven-hour meeting, the team decided to end their boycott, but Leon and Gujiarro decided to leave the training camp, CSD president Victor Francos (pictured) confirmed.
The team’s new manager, Montse Tome (center), also attended the meeting
Spanish federation president Rubiales kissed star striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the post-match presentation following Spain’s 1-0 win in the World Cup final against England. After weeks of criticism of his behavior, Rubiales finally resigned and is now facing charges of sexual assault and coercion.
Spain also fired their coach Jorge Vilda after the World Cup after the team complained about his coaching methods, replacing him with Tome.
But the team was still not satisfied and made it clear that they did not want to represent their country until structural changes were made within the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The players were seen arriving for talks with the RFEF on Tuesday evening, while members of the National Sports Council (CSD) also attended the meeting.
The meeting lasted seven hours and ended at 4.40am on Wednesday morning as the RFEF sought a compromise with the players.
The players arrived on Tuesday evening for showdown talks with their country’s football association
Of the 22 players present at the meeting, 20 agreed to stay and end their boycott, but Leon and Gujiarro chose to leave.
CSD President Victor Francos announced the news in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He told reporters: “They asked to leave the concentration camp because they lacked spirit and felt personally uncomfortable.” They will communicate this and I hope that those who remain will be given the same respect as those who don’t stay.”
It was revealed on Tuesday that under Spanish sports law, players can be banned from playing for their country for up to five years if they refuse to represent the national team. However, the players told reporters that they had been assured that no sanctions would be imposed on them.
Meanwhile, the RFEF commented positively on the discussions, claiming that “in-depth discussions” had taken place.
A range of issues are understood to have been discussed, including structural changes, professionalising the women’s team and ensuring the team is treated with the same respect as their male colleagues.
The FUTPRO union offered legal advice and acted as a mediator during the discussions. The union’s president, Amanda Gutierrez, indicated that progress had been made but acknowledged that there was still much work to be done.
“It is a convergence of positions.” “It is the beginning of a long road ahead,” she said.
FUTPRO Union president Amanda Gutierrez (pictured) admitted there is still “a long way to go” despite 20 players agreeing to stay with the national team
“They have once again shown that they are coherent and the vast majority have chosen to remain in the interests of this agreement.”
The 20 players who chose to remain part of the Spanish training camp will now be available for the team’s Nations League games in the coming days.
Cristina Martín-Prieto has also been called up to replace the injured Esther Gonzalez and is due to meet the rest of the squad at their training base in Oliva on Thursday.
Spain travels to Sweden on Friday before hosting Switzerland next Tuesday.
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