Spain’s new women’s coach Montse Tomé is set to hold a news conference in Gothenburg on Thursday, a day before her soccer team tries to put off-field distractions aside to play Sweden in the Nations League
It will be the first game since the Spanish federation was rocked by a scandal caused by its former president Luis Rubiales kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent following its Women’s World Cup triumph.
Tomé will be accompanied by Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and veteran defender Irene Paredes at the news conference.All the focus remains on the turmoil engulfing the Spanish federation amid a push by its women players to force deep reform to eliminate what they consider to be deeply rooted sexism in the institution that runs Spanish soccer.
Tomé, who replaced the fired Jorge Vidal, is now under scrutiny after having called up players, including 15 World Cup winners, after they had said they did not want to play for the federation until reforms were made.in Valencia on Tuesday, but it required Spain’s secretary of state for sports to step in and personally mediate between the federation and players to get most of the players to stay.
Spanish politicians, soccer clubs and players, along with many fans, have supported the players in their clash with the federation. The government and women’s rights groups have characterized it as aSpain will play Sweden in a rematch of the World Cup semifinal game that Spain won before beating England in the final.