Aitana Bonmati says her team have “battled hard” and will continue to fight for women’s rights following the verdict in the Luis Rubiales trial.
Last week, former Spanish Football Federation president Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso without her consent in the aftermath of Spain’s 2023 World Cup win, with the court ruling he pay a fine of €10,000.
Speaking ahead of Spain’s fixture against England at Wembley on Wednesday night, a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, Ballon d’Or winner Bonmati spoke powerfully about what her teammates have overcome.
Bonmati said: “I hope that this case makes changes in our country, in our football, to respect us better as footballers, but it’s also a global case.
“I don’t want to speak only about footballers because this happens in other jobs too. So I hope this case helps anyone who is going through these things and I hope this is going to help to respect women more.
“I have to believe [that change will happen]. I believe that this case happened for a reason.”
Wednesday’s meeting will be the first time the Lionesses face the world champions since Spain overcame the European champions in Sydney in August 2023.
Since then, Spain won the inaugural Nations League last year and have shown no signs of slowing down, after winning a tight match against Belgium with two stoppage time goals in their opening match of this year’s competition.
Bonmati added: “It has been difficult [playing alongside the outstanding trial], but this makes us more champions because we didn’t win only on the pitch, but also off the pitch.
“We are continuously fighting for our rights, for women’s rights, and for making change in society. So we are proud of that because we know that we have had to suffer a lot and that makes us stronger and more champions.
“The sentence [in the trial] is correct and it’s a positive thing, but I was surprised that there was no sentence linked to coercion.
“But the trial has served a purpose. We’re all happy. And we’ve been doing well on the pitch and also supporting our teammates.
“We’ve battled hard and we know that what we’ve done has not been in vain.”
“I heard Sarina [Wiegman] speaking and supporting us with our issues,” she continued. “I always said to her that I appreciate her words also to Lucy [Bronze] and Alessia Russo.
“We didn’t feel alone in this issue. And they feel also that this is a global case, not only a Spanish case.
“So they feel our suffering and they support us. So I appreciate that a lot. And I think all my teammates and I are thankful for their support.”
