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Now England’s Lionesses – who lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup Final – have issued a joint statement. Shared on social media by various England players, it read: “Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.<\/p>\n
“Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth. The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.<\/p>\n
“We all stand with you Jenn i Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team. The Lionesses.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n In an earlier statement,\u00a0Hermoso said: “I have to state that I have been under continuous pressure to come up with a statement that could justify the act of Mr. Luis Rubiales,\u201d she said in a statement on Twitter.\u00a0 Not only that, but in different ways and through different people, the RFEF has pressured those around me (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) to give testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices, but I am sure that as the world champion national team we do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile and controlling culture.\u00a0 This type of incident joins a long list of situations that we players have been denouncing in recent years, so this event, in which I have been involved, is just the straw that breaks the camel\u2019s back and what everyone has been able to see.<\/p>\n \u201cBut attitudes like this have been part of the day-to-day life of our team for years.\u00a0 For all these reasons, I want to reinforce the position I took from the beginning, considering that I do not have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, without respecting me, at a historic moment for me and for women\u2019s sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Hermoso said the incident had made her feel \u201cvulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part\u201d, adding: \u201cI have ZERO TOLERANCE for these behaviours.\u201d<\/p>\n The Spanish government will push for the suspension of Rubiales but the players \u2013 including all members of the victorious squad \u2013 have taken matters into their own hands by effectively going on strike while he remains in position.<\/p>\n A joint statement released by players\u2019 union Futpro said they \u201cwant to express their firm and resounding condemnation of behaviours that have violated the dignity of women\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAfter everything that happened during the Women\u2019s World Cup medal ceremony, we want to state that all the players who sign this letter will not return to a call for the national team if the current leaders continue,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s\u00a0next scheduled fixture is on September 22 against Sweden.\u00a0 On Thursday FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales, who also grabbed his crotch in celebration despite being just metres away from\u00a0Spain\u2019s\u00a0Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter in the stadium VIP area.<\/p>\n Rubiales apologised for his behaviour in the VIP area but insisted in his speech on Friday he had been the target of a \u201csocial assassination\u201d and repeatedly and emphatically stated \u201cI will not resign\u201d, words that drew applause from the gathered delegates at an extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish federation.<\/p>\n World players\u2019 union FIFPRO said it had written to UEFA urging it to open disciplinary proceedings.\u00a0 \u201cAny lack of action by authorities in addressing the conduct of Mr Rubiales would send an entirely unacceptable and damaging message to the\u00a0football\u00a0industry and wider society,\u201d it said in a statement.<\/p>\n European\u00a0football\u2019s\u00a0governing body has yet to issue any comment on the Rubiales case.\u00a0 The players, however, have escalated things themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom our union we want to emphasize that no woman should feel the need to respond to the forceful images that everyone has seen and of course, they should not be involved in non-consensual attitudes,\u201d they added in their statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe players of the Spanish Soccer Team, current world champions, expect forceful answers from the public powers so that actions such as those contained do not go unpunished. We want to end this statement by asking for real structural changes that help the national team to continue growing, in order to transfer this great success to later generations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is managing to tarnish the greatest sporting success of Spanish women\u2019s\u00a0football.\u201d<\/p>\n
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