Both England and Scotland players wore white wristbands with ‘#SeAcabo’ (‘It’s over’) during of their Nations League clash at the Stadium of Light to show their support for the Spanish women’s side.
Spanish football has found itself engulfed in scandal after Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the immediate aftermath of Spain’s World Cup win last month.
Rubiales remained defiant that he would not leave his post but eventually resigned earlier this month after Hermoso filed a complaint to the national prosecutor’s office saying the kiss was not consensual.
Even after Rubiales’ departure, the Spanish squad maintained they would boycott their national team duties until more changes were made to the governance of women’s football in the country.
All but two players agreed to end the boycott on Wednesday after a seven-hour meeting with the federation and Spain’s high court for sport.
England and Scotland players wore armbands showing solidarity with Spain players during their Nations League match
It was the sides’ first game since the World Cup final which saw Luis Rubiales kiss Spain’s Jenni Hermoso after the game
Before Spain’s game with Sweden, both sets of players posed with a banner of solidarity
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Spain were back in action themselves for the first time since the saga following their World Cup win took place, facing Sweden in their opening game of the UEFA Women’s Nations League, following the meeting earlier this week.
Seven of the players who started in the World Cup final were named in the starting line-up, and before the game their opponents showed their solidarity for their counterparts by posing together alongside a banner that read #SeAcabo – translating to ‘It’s over’.
The Spain players also posed with clenched fists in their pre-match photo.
Spain took the lead in their first game as world champions, with Athenea del Castillo opening the scoring, before they were pegged back thanks to a goal from former Chelsea defender Magdalena Eriksson. They eventually won 3-2.