Spanish footballer Jenni Hermoso, who was kissed on the lips by ex-federation president Luis Rubiales after her side won the Women’s World Cup, has not been picked for the first squad named since the scandal erupted.
New Spain head coach Montse Tome said she had talked to Hermoso and decided not to include her in order to “protect her”.
Following the kiss during celebrations in Sydney after the national side beat England 1-0 on 20 August, the whole World Cup-winning team went on strike.
They called for wide-ranging reforms and new leadership as Rubiales initially refused to resign before later quitting.
Last Friday, 21 of the 23 players involved in the tournament – including Hermoso – said the strike would continue until they were satisfied by the level of structural reform at the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Despite Rubiales eventually stepping down, the players said not all of their demands had been met.
However, 15 of the World Cup-winning squad have now been called up by Tome, with Hermoso one of eight players absent for the Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland.
“We are all with Jenni and with all of the players,” Tome said.
“I believe this was the best way to protect her.”
Tome, who was an assistant at the Women’s World Cup to ex-coach Jorge Vilda, did not say whether it was Hermoso who asked not to be called up.
Also missing are captain Ivana Andres, Irene Guerrero, Mariona Caldentey, Laia Codina, Alba Redondo, Rocio Galvez and Claudia Zornoza.
Tome said she had spoken to all the World Cup-winning players that she picked and expected them to report to training camp on Tuesday.
She said no player had asked not to be called up, but would not say if they had agreed to end their boycott.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
