"What was expressed in our statement last Friday makes clear and without any other possible interpretation our firm will not to be summoned for justified reasons. These statements remain fully in force," reads the statement published on X (formerly Twitter) by two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas.
Fifteen of the 23 Spanish world champions, for the majority on strike since the Rubiales affair, were nevertheless called Monday for the next matches of the League of Nations by the new coach Montse Tomé, who left aside Jenni Hermoso to "protect".
In total, 39 players including 21 of the 23 Spaniards crowned in Sydney had announced Friday in a statement that the conditions were not met for them to play again in the national team and had called for a total overhaul of the bodies of Spanish football, not judging sufficient the resignation of the former boss of Spanish football Luis Rubiales after his forced kiss to Jenni Hermoso and the dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, whose methods they criticized.
In the statement published Monday evening, and written on behalf of the "players of the Spanish women's first team", without further details on the signatories, the Spaniards ensure that they will "study the possible legal consequences" to which they expose themselves "to make the best decision for (their) future and (their) health".
In addition, they say they consider that their convocation was not carried out in the time and form set by FIFA regulations, which would prevent their federation "from demanding their presence" at the planned gathering.
"We regret once again that our federation puts us in a position that we never wanted to occupy," they conclude.
La Roja is scheduled to face Sweden on Friday and Switzerland next week in the Nations League, a qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She will play for the first time with a star on her jersey, but without guarantee that it will be worn by those who won it in August.
© 2023 AFP