# Spain’s Women’s Team Focuses on Football After Weeks of Controversy
Spain’s women’s team is now able to “focus on football” after weeks of controversy since their World Cup win, says midfielder Aitana Bonmati. The controversy began when former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s win over England on 20 August, leading to players boycotting the team and manager Jorge Vilda being sacked and Rubiales eventually resigning. The boycott ended last Wednesday with the team beating Sweden 3-2 on Friday in their first game since the World Cup final and the first under new head coach Montse Tome.
## Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati Speaks Out
Most of the players ended the boycott after more than seven hours of talks and the football federation committing to “immediate and profound changes”, with the team then flying to Sweden the next day. Uefa Women’s Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball winner Bonmati, 25, said: “We are setting an example on a sporting and social levels, that men and women should be treated equally.”
Bonmati added: “The first few days were complicated, with stress, anxiety, but as the days have gone by things have changed. We have now been able to focus on football, which is what we want.” Before Tuesday’s game against Switzerland in Cordoba, the Barcelona player added: “We want to get back to normality knowing that there are many things to improve, that have been discussed, and that there are commitments on all sides to make this go better and to leave a good legacy and good conditions for all generations to come.”
## Luis Rubiales Banned from Going Within 200 Metres of Jenni Hermoso
Rubiales’ kiss came during the trophy presentation ceremony in Sydney and Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and filed a legal complaint. Rubiales, who has denied sexually assaulting Hermoso when he appeared in court, has been banned from going within 200 metres of the player.
Bonmati said: “[Gender equality] is a global struggle and all the players feel it is a little bit our own. We are here to play football but we have a loudspeaker and a responsibility to leave football and women in a better place than we found it.”
The Spanish women’s team is now able to focus on football after weeks of controversy following their World Cup win, with Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati speaking out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations. Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from going within 200 metres of Jenni Hermoso after he kissed her following Spain’s win over England on 20 August, leading to players boycotting the team and manager Jorge Vilda being sacked and Rubiales eventually resigning. The boycott ended last Wednesday with the team beating Sweden 3-2 on Friday in their first game since the World Cup final and the first under new head coach Montse Tome, with most of the players ending the boycott after more than seven hours of talks and the football federation committing to “immediate and profound changes”.
Bonmati said: “We are setting an example on a sporting and social levels, that men and women should be treated equally.” She added: “We want to get back to normality knowing that there are many things to improve, that have been discussed, and that there are commitments on all sides to make this go better and to leave a good legacy and good conditions for all generations to come.”
The Spanish women’s team is now able to focus on football after weeks of controversy following their World Cup win, with Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati speaking out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations. With Rubiales now banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, Bonmati said: “[Gender equality] is a global struggle and all the players feel it is a little bit our own. We are here to play football but we have a loudspeaker and a responsibility to leave football and women in a better place than we found it.”
The Spanish women’s team is now able to move forward from weeks of controversy following their World Cup win, with Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati speaking out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations. With Rubiales now banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, Bonmati said: “[Gender equality] is a global struggle and all the players feel it is a little bit our own.” She added: “We want to get back to normality knowing that there are many things to improve, that have been discussed, and that there are commitments on all sides to make this go better and to leave a good legacy and good conditions for all generations to come.”
The Spanish women’s team is now able to focus on football after weeks of controversy following their World Cup win, with Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati speaking out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations. Bonmati said: “We are setting an example on a sporting and social levels, that men and women should be treated equally.” She added: “We want to get back to normality knowing that there are many things to improve, that have been discussed, and that there are commitments on all sides to make this go better and to leave a good legacy and good conditions for all generations to come.”
The Spanish women’s team is now able to move forward from weeks of controversy following their World Cup win, with Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati speaking out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations. With Rubiales now banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, Bonmati said: “[Gender equality] is a global struggle and all the players feel it is a little bit our own.” She added: “We are here to play football but we have a loudspeaker and a responsibility to leave football and women in a better place than we found it.”
Spain’s women’s team is now able to “focus on football” after weeks of controversy since their World Cup win, says midfielder Aitana Bonmati. The controversy began when former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s win over England on 20 August, leading to players boycotting the team and manager Jorge Vilda being sacked and Rubiales eventually resigning. The boycott ended last Wednesday with the team beating Sweden 3-2 on Friday in their first game since the World Cup final and the first under new head coach Montse Tome, with most of the players ending the boycott after more than seven hours of talks and the football federation committing to “immediate and profound changes”.
Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Aitana Bonmati spoke out about gender equality and the need for change in football for future generations, saying: “We are setting an