Spain players could be disqualified from playing for their country for FIVE years if they refuse to represent the team, after they reaffirmed their intention to strike following the Luis Rubiales kiss-gate scandal

• Spain players have announced their intention to go on strike this week
• They could be given a significant punishment if they refuse to play for the team
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!

Spain’s female players could be hit with a lengthy ban if they refuse to represent their country over the coming week.

Just one month on from winning the World Cup for the first time, La Roja are due to return to action when they face Ukraine on Friday and then Switzerland next Tuesday in the Nations League.

New manager Montse Tome named her squad for the fixtures on Monday which included 15 World Cup winners, but the team have since reaffirmed their intention to go on strike following the Luis Rubiales kiss-gate scandal that erupted following the tournament. 

Rubiales kissed star striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the post-match presentation after the final, triggering his resignation from his position as Spanish FA president earlier this month. He is now facing charges of sexual assault and coercion following the incident.

Spain’s manager during the tournament, Jorge Vilda, was also sacked after the squad raised concerns about his training methods.

Spain won the World Cup last month, but their players are now planning to go on strike

Their decision to strike comes after Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales (right) kissed Jenni Hermoso (left) on the lips at the post-match presentation

New manager Montse Tome (pictured) announced her squad on Monday, but the players have made it clear they do not intend to play this week

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Despite these departures, the Spanish players remain unhappy and have called for structural changes to be made regarding the national team and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), with 39 players signing a statement last week confirming they will make themselves unavailable for selection until these alterations have been made.

It has now emerged that the players could face serious consequences if they stick to this stance, with the country’s Sports Law stating that players can be disqualified for up to five years for refusing to play for their nation.

Players could also be given fines ranging from €3,000-€30,000 (£2,600-£25,900).

A new Sports Law has been proposed with even more significant punishments, although this has not been approved yet.

The new proposal suggests players should be banned for up to 15 years, as it deems ‘unjustified lack of attendance at calls for national sports teams’ to be a ‘very serious’ infraction.

The fines for the new Sports Law would not change from the current one.

Any breach of the Sports Law must be investigated by the Sports Administrative Court as requested by the Higher Sports Council (CSD).

CSD president Victor Francos has spoken out on the current situation, revealing he will be speaking to the players today to try to find a solution as he wants to avoid imposing sanctions on the team.

CSD president Victor Francos (pictured) has said he will speak to the team about changing their stance, but the players could be disqualified from representing their country for up to five years if they refuse to play

‘I hope that the call (to play for Spain) has been agreed upon with them. If they do not show up, the Government will have to apply the law, to my shame; but the law is the law,’ Francos said.

‘Early tomorrow (Tuesday) I will call a series of people from the National Team to talk to them. I think there is a moment in which the Government must intervene; not everything goes. I cannot assure anyone that I will solve it, but I will try.

‘We are going to tell the players that the Government’s commitment is with all the subsequent consequences; we are going to do what is necessary to solve it, but we ask them to go to. 

‘We want them to be Olympic champions. I’m going to try to talk to the captains; if they tell me no, I will respect it. What we don’t want is to sanction them.’

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