Dozens of Spanish women’s national team players announced on Friday that they would not play for the country unless football federation boss Luis Rubiales was fired in the wake of a controversy involving him kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s World Cup triumph.
Rubiales refused to resign earlier on Friday, infuriating players and government officials who condemned his conduct as reprehensible sexist behaviour.
A total of 56 players, including Hermoso and the whole cup-winning 23-man squad, signed a joint statement submitted through their FUTPRO union, asking that the federation leadership be removed.
