England’s Georgia Stanway believes that Luis Rubiales’ long-awaited resignation from the RFEF is ‘the start of something that could end up being potentially very, very positive for the women’s game.’
The president of the Spanish football federation announced his resignation on Sunday evening in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. Previously, he had refused to resign from his role despite coming under heavy controversy after kissing Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final – which the player claims was not consensual.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the commencement of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga, the Bayern Munich midfielder says that players do not want the now-infamous moment to ‘be the end of something.’
Instead, the 24-year-old acknowledges the ‘fight’ that has taken place, and says that it is important that players ‘continue to be able to have these conversations… and feel comfortable in [the] workplace.’
Rubiales had been suspended by FIFA for provisional ninety days, but had refused to resign from his role. As a result, 81 Spaniards issued a collective statement to inform the federation that they would not represent la Roja while he remained in charge.
This isn’t a new issue though, and concerns have been voiced about the leadership of the RFEF in the past. Jorge Vilda, the Head Coach of the Women’s National Team, was sacked by the federation last week – despite guiding la Roja to glory less than a month prior.
Spain are set to make their UEFA Women’s Nations League debut on September 22, as they travel to Sweden. Having signed for Bayern Munich in the summer, Sweden’s Magdalena Eriksson added that she ‘personally feels for the Spanish girls, the Spanish team.’
‘It shows the power is with the players – and that is a positive sign.’
