Jenni Hermoso: Spain forward called up to national team squad for first time since Luis Rubiales World Cup kiss

Jenni Hermoso has been selected for the Spanish national team, marking her return after winning the Women’s World Cup. During the medal ceremony, she received an unwanted kiss on the lips from the president of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales. Hermoso stated that this kiss was not consensual.

Jenni Hermoso is back in the Spain squad after the World Cup victory in Australia and New Zealand over the summer.

Hermoso was kissed on the lips during the medal ceremony by then Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales – something she said was not consensual – after Spain had defeated England 1-0 in the final in Sydney to become world champions.

After that, Rubiales and Jorge Vilda, the manager of the World Cup-winning team, stepped down from their positions.

Hermoso, who plays for Pachuca in Mexico, is now back on the national team for Nations League matches against Italy and Switzerland on October 27 and 31.

Hermoso recently criticized the Spanish football federation for intimidating and threatening players who chose not to join the women’s national team.

Hermoso was not chosen for Spain’s women’s national team match against Sweden. The new coach, Montse Tome, named 15 of the players who won the Women’s World Cup in the 23-player squad, despite the team announcing a boycott in August.

The RFEF hasn’t changed since Rubiales resigned, as mentioned in her social media statement.

In September, 81 players, including the entire World Cup squad, decided not to play for Spain again because of the president’s behavior at the final match.

Rubiales resigned due to pressure, but many players, including 21 World Cup winners, have stated that his resignation alone is not enough for them to return to the national team.

The players said they were not ready to come back because the problems at the RFEF are worse than Rubiales, who is being investigated for alleged sexual assault and coercion.

Rubiales is not allowed to be near Hermoso because of a court order in Madrid. The court is looking into a complaint of sexual assault, but Rubiales denies it.