There has been an unprecedented mass resignation from the Spanish women's national soccer team in protest against coach Jorge Vilda.
As the national association RFEF announced, 15 players of the A-team resigned with e-mails with the same wording during the course of Thursday.
In it, the national players explain that the current situation is "significantly" affecting their "emotional state" and their "health".
"Until the situation is reversed, i.e. the coaching team is relieved of its duties, they would therefore not appear for the Spanish national team.
However, the association does not want to give in to the pressure.
The RFEF "will not allow players to question the continuity of the national team coach and his coaching staff as such decisions are not within their remit," it said in a statement.
According to Spanish radio station COPE, currently injured world footballer Alexia Putellas has not resigned.
With Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, Sandra Panos, Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, Ona Batlle, Lucia Garcia and Laia Aleixandri, according to information from the broadcaster, numerous players who were in the starting eleven in the European Championship preliminary round match against Germany in July said goodbye .
The association emphasized that their approach “does not correspond to the values of football” and is even “harmful”.
According to current Spanish law, the players face a ban of two to five years.
If necessary, the national team should now be filled with youth players, the main thing is that they are “committed”, according to RFEF: “It is a question of dignity.”
A return of the now retired players is only possible if they realize their mistake and apologize.