The players held a tense meeting with the Federation upon their arrival at the concentration in Oliva
Maximum tension in Oliva, a city of about 25,000 inhabitants between Valencia and Denia -closer to the second-, until after midnight. In a four-star complex near the beach a meeting took place that could – conditional verb at the time of going to press – change the history of Spanish football. The best players in the country with the CSD, and the Federation in between.
It all started in the morning. Advised by their surroundings, clubs and lawyers – some better than others -, twenty-two of the twenty-three footballers mentioned – only Esther González fell due to injury, who will be replaced if nothing changes by the Sevilla player Cristina Martín-Prieto – decided to attend the concentration with the selection. Well, they understood that even though the call had not been made in a timely manner according to FIFA regulations, they were exposed to a high risk of sanction – withdrawal of the federation token and a financial fine – if the Sports Law ended up prevailing. Going to express that they did not want to be there, was the idea. And they do it like that.
A group from Madrid – which gathered in the morning at the Madrid Alameda Hotel -, formed by the soccer players who play in the capital and the coaching staff headed by Montse Tomé, left for Valencia and then for Oliva. And the rest, from Barcelona, Seville, San Sebastián and Manchester, went directly to the City of Turia, to join the expedition at the Hotel.
Víctor Francos, president of the Higher Sports Council, one of the main protagonists of the summit, also attended. Upon his arrival at Valencia Airport he was clear: “What happened yesterday was unacceptable, that is what I have conveyed to the Federation. “I felt that my obligation was to be next to the players to listen to them and look for solutions.” And he was optimistic, because “without optimism, things don’t go well.”
The conclave started after nine at night, when the eight FC Barcelona footballers arrived – the last to do so due to an unforeseen event on the flight. It started with Víctor Francos himself, all the players and the Federation staff, among whom were the coach Montse Tomé, Ana Álvarez (director of women’s football) and Rafa del Amo (vice president of the RFEF). Afterwards, the president of the CSD wanted to be alone with the soccer players and Amanda Gutiérrez, the president of FUTPRO, the majority union.
Give and take, was the tone of the meeting. A real pulse. The players already arrived with the intention of leaving, but many – but not all – wanted dialogue. Some, in fact, even wanted to abandon the summit, despite the more than likely consequences. But they negotiated – according to Relevo – “clear and written” insurance. that they were not going to be sanctioned if they left the concentration, to remain firm with their premise of not returning until they find a “safe place.” The idea at first was to go all together. If one left, they all left. If one stayed, they all stayed.
But the CSD wanted to calm the waters and try to convince them. He threatened to bring forward the elections in the Federation if immediate changes did not occur and the latter, for its part and already finding itself on the ropes, He began to consider imminent layoffs to save the call. The first on the list was Andreu Camps, general secretary of the RFEF and Luis Rubiales’ right-hand man. But there could be more. The idea was that the core closest to the already former president of the Federation would fall.
The summit lasted more than three hours and was one of the most tense that has been experienced in recent months. A lot at stake and little time. Someone will end up winning the fight.