After the latest period of turmoil that has engulfed the Spanish women's football team, coach Montse Tomé and senior players Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes have appeared in a press conference in the build-up to the match they are to play this Friday against Sweden. And naturally, the three protagonists were asked about the controversial call-up and the events of the last few days. While the coach chose to adopt a more distant role, the two Barça players took the opportunity to speak out loud and clear, explaining the reasons for all their discrepancies and sending some powerful messages.
Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes, straight as an arrow
The first player to speak to the media was Alexia Putellas, who already in her first response showed she wanted to talk straight. "We have been demanding that they listen to us for quite a long time. We've detected systematic discrimination against women for too many decades. We had to insist on zero tolerance, for Jenni, for ourselves and not to set precedents for others", explained the Catalan player, who then wanted to give details about this week's meeting with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and the Higher Sports Council (CSD).
"There was a meeting with the federation and the CSD after Monday's call-up at which we arrived angry. From our point of view, we were unavailable for selection. We came to avoid sanctions, when FIFA agreed that the call-up was not correctly handled in terms of timing. The meeting the other day was a turning point. I am confident that the agreements that took us until the small hours of the morning will make our sport and society much better."
Alexia Putellas: "We have never asked for the dismissal of a coach"
Alexia Putellas then sought to explain that this group of players has never wanted to go beyond what they saw as their roles as players. "We have never asked for the dismissal of a coach. We conveyed concerns, concepts in which the dressing room did not feel comfortable and always understanding that this is not our job." Finally, the Barça captain ended her speech in this short press conference by detailing some of the keys to the non-consensual kiss of Rubiales to Jenni Hermoso. "The RFEF did not take a stand on the side of our teammate, it even issued statements discrediting her when everyone saw what happened. [Now] there are commitments to create protocols for these cases," concluded the midfielder from Mollet del Vallès.
Then it was the turn of Irene Paredes, who answered fewer questions, but reinforced the line of her teammate. "The meeting the other day was constructive. Important agreements were reached to move forward," explained the Barcelona defender, who ended her part of the press conference by sending a strongly assertive message: "The only thing we want is to play football in dignified conditions and in which we are respected. So far it has been impossible. We are tired. The light at the end of the tunnel is still not visible. This is taking a long time. We are aware that we have a loudspeaker to be able to do this, we have a lot of people behind us, colleagues from other national teams, from other sports. And women who in their jobs and in their lives are going through similar cases. We want it to be a turning point at which people can look at each other and find their voice and say: 'That happened to me too'"