MADRID: Spain’s all-time top scorer Jenni Hermoso will return to the national team after being included in the first squad named by their new coach.
Hermoso made global headlines when she denounced being kissed against her wishes by the former president of Spain’s soccer federation during the awards ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia.
The forward for Mexican club Tigres has not played for Spain in a year and was dropped from the team ahead of the 2024 European Championship, when the world champions finished runners-up.
New Spain coach Sonia Bermúdez recalled the 35-year-old Hermoso to her squad on Friday. Bermúdez replaced former coach Montse Tomé, whose contract was not renewed by the federation after the Euros in August.
The kiss by former boss Luis Rubiales led to calls for a national reckoning over sexism in sport and to his conviction for sexual assault in February.
Bermúdez also recalled Barcelona central defender Mapi León, who has not played for Spain since she was part of a player revolt against then former coach Jorge Vilda in September 2022.
Vilda kept his job through the 2023 Women’s World Cup but was fired shortly afterward when he backed Rubiales. Tomé, his assistant, took his place.
Bermúdez will debut as Spain’s coach in the Women’s Nations League semifinals against Sweden on Oct. 24. The second leg will be in Sweden four days later. Germany and France meet in the other semifinal.
Jenni Hermoso recalled by new Spain women’s coach for Nations League semifinals
https://arab.news/rbku7
Jenni Hermoso recalled by new Spain women’s coach for Nations League semifinals
- The forward for Mexican club Tigres has not played for Spain in a year
- New Spain coach Sonia Bermúdez recalled the 35-year-old Hermoso to her squad on Friday
FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign welcomes Palestinian student
- Ghada Ashour, 24, who grew up in Gaza, becomes fifth scholar selected for FIA’s flagship scholarship initiative
DUBAI: The FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign has welcomed Ghada Ashour, a 24-year-old student from Palestine, to its flagship scholarship program, created to empower the next generation of researchers in the fight against online abuse in sport.
Ashour grew up in Gaza where she had been studying remotely until gaining a place on the UAOA scholarship, which brought her to Dublin City University, Ireland.
Becoming the fifth scholar to join the program, she was selected based on her interests in social media, and passion for advancing insights in this area for the benefit of sportspeople.
Launched in 2023, the program offers talented students and young professionals from diverse backgrounds the chance to engage in research on the impact, prevalence, and prevention of online abuse in sport.
Funded by the FIA Foundation, the UAOA scholars have been selected to undertake research dedicated to positive social change.
Ashour’s thesis, which will be printed in English and Arabic, will focus specifically on the relationship between athlete activism and online abuse.
Athletes increasingly speak out on war, conflict, and social and environmental issues. Although the attention such athletes bring can be positive, research indicates it can lead to significant abuse.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, founder of the UAOA campaign, said: “The FIA is committed to extending opportunities across the world while inspiring and developing the next generation.
“Education lies at the core of this mission, and I am pleased to welcome Ghada as the latest student in the UAOA Scholarship Programme.
“Her experience and research will help broaden the international perspective on this critical issue. This pioneering research program will help ensure we safeguard the future of sport for generations to come.”
Ashour said she was “truly grateful” to the FIA leader: “It is a dream come true to study the subject I am passionate about at a leading institution in this field.
“I am so excited to advance the field of research in online abuse in sport and to contribute to this prevalent topic which is impacting so many people’s lives on a daily basis.”
The UAOA’s 2025 Barometer Report found that 75 percent of sports federations report continued threats against competitors and their families, and that 90 percent believe abuse could force athletes to leave their sport.
Dublin City University is a leading academic institution in the study of online abuse.
Each scholar is fully funded and mentored by leading experts in the field. They are able to attend UAOA events, where they can share their findings with a global audience of policymakers, sports federations, and digital platforms.
The inaugural cohort of four UAOA scholars included participants from Italy, South Africa, the UK, and Mexico.
