The Spanish women’s team has recently seen several players resign due to problems with the squad’s coach.
Fifteen players sent a mass email to the team on Thursday night. The women mentioned mental health issues brought on by head coach Jorge Vilda. On Friday, the email was made public.
In the statement, the players ask not to get involved with the team at the moment. “The general situation of the Spanish team generated by the latest events, events of which (the federation) is aware, is greatly affecting my state of mind and therefore my health,” each of the 15 players wrote.
“Because of this, I currently do not consider myself available for our national team and therefore ask that I not be called until this situation changes.”
While the Spanish FA says that these players resigned, the 15 women contrast that. Instead, the players simply ask to withdraw their names from the selection. That way, they can focus on their mental health. They want to return once the Spanish Federation resolves the aforementioned situations.
Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas posted her response to the Spanish FA on social media.
In the excerpt, Putellas says that the players never asked for the coach’s dismissal as mentioned.
“We understand that our job is in no case to choose such a position, but to express in a constructive and honest way what we believe can improve the performance of the group.”
“By requesting not to be called up, we penalize our professional career, our economy and of course the continuous effort to build something important in women’s football.”
pic.twitter.com/OwKIr3tWt3
– Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) September 23, 2022
Fifteen players resign from the Spanish women’s team
Guijarro appeared alongside Paredes and forward Jennifer Hermoso at a news conference earlier this month. The trio voiced their concerns. However, they kept the problem more in the actual results of the matches. “It’s a difficult time,” said Paredes. “We are an ambitious team and we want to improve and win. We believe that various internal aspects (of the team) need to improve.”
“There is widespread discontent in the team for what we went through at the end of the European Championship,” Guijarro said. “We thought we had a group that could win titles. We think that and feel that way. After the European Championship, the group sent that message to our coach.”
None of the players mentioned their mental health regarding Vilda’s actions at the press conference.
The head of women’s football in Spain, Ana Álvarez, supported Vilda. Álvarez stated that there are no reports of sexual or verbal abuse by the players. “Nothing like this has ever happened (under Vilda),” Álvarez proclaimed on Cadena SER radio. “We are all professionals and there has never been anything to tarnish that. Nothing has happened that you might be thinking. That would be very serious.”
The Spanish women’s team hired Vilda in 2015. Before him, the players demanded the resignation of his predecessor, Ignacio Quereda.
Spain has two friendlies scheduled for October.
PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto
