Claim, pride and fight. A Gold Medal of Honor that is much more than a statue or a decoration. It means the revolution that they lead, on and off the pitch, non-conformity with what is established and the decision to change the world. In fact, they already have. They have continued to add grains of sand to a mountain that is not going to collapse, that is firm, brave and solid. The Barça women’s team has won another title, a recognition of the values they have demonstrated for so many years. “We are here to stay, to help those who will come, because there is still a long way to go”cried Alexia Putellas in a speech that gave everyone present goosebumps.
And, as it could not be otherwise, the Barça footballers used their voices to demand what they deserve in a protest speech at the Palau del Parlament de Catalunya. “We need consensus, courage and leadership on the part of the institutions because we will not stop here. Those who fought before us deserve it, we deserve it for the effort we make every day, and all the girls and boys who today dream of being like us deserve it. We will not fail you,” proclaimed Alexia Putellas, accompanied by the entire staff on the stage.
Alexia, a reference, leader and captain, did not avoid responsibility and wanted to be clear about the critical situation that women’s sports are experiencing with the open conflict with the Spanish Federation. “These days you see it with the serious situation that we are facing with the Federation and the changes that we all ask for so that no woman, inside or outside of football, has to live in situations of contempt, lack of respect or abuse,” she cried before receiving the applause of the attendees.
Irreversible revolution
They have changed history, they have created a new path for new generations and they have committed to leading the necessary revolution so that those who will come will encounter many fewer obstacles and prejudices. For this reason, they are the recipients of the Gold Medal of Honor from the Parliament of Catalonia. For the first time a sports team receives this distinctionwhich recognizes the work of the athletes and the Barça club for their contribution to growth, recognition and professionalization, as well as the generation of equal opportunities in women’s football.
They have made exceptionality the norm. Season after season, and especially over the last five years, Barça has emerged as the undisputed dominator of women’s football. Not only for having lifted the Champions League twice, or for having reached four finals in five years, but for having managed to create benchmarks that have conquered the world. The names of Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí or Mapi León are recognized around the globean unthinkable fact if we look back just five years.
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International image of brands, social leaders and top-level footballers. All of this is each of the footballers in this squad. The demand has always been linked to women’s football and, as emblems of this sport, the Barça players, day in and day out, have raised their voices against the injustices that still exist: the ridiculous minimum wage, the inequality compared to their male counterparts, the lack of respect on the part of the institutions towards their work… For this and much more, the Parliament of Catalonia has awarded them the Medal of Honor in the gold category after a historic season: on and off the playing fields.
They have broken barriers and glass ceilings. Now, they ask for passage. And they won’t take no for an answer. If necessary, as has happened with the negotiation of the agreement between the players and the F League, they are capable of standing up for the future they deserve.