Scandal in the women’s national team: three players resigned with strong criticism of the AFA

A few days away from playing the two games on the next date FIFA in Buenos Aires against Costa Rica, three of the players from the women’s soccer team announced their resignation from the team, before the lack of conditions for both training and matches. “Wearing the Argentine National Team shirt is the most beautiful thing there is, but it is also It’s nice that they value our work“, our effort, our sacrifice to be able to be there in the best way,” said one of the affected players.

Is about Laurina Oliveros, Lorena Benítez and Julieta Cruz, the three Boca Juniors players. In individual posts on their social networks, they all agreed on his desire to wear the Argentine National Team shirt but they explained that they decided to step aside from the team led by German Portanova by bad conditions to which they have to submit to be part of the training and concentrations.

“Representing your country, always trying to leave everything behind, making an effort, sacrificing yourself and leaving a thousand things aside, there comes a point where injustices tire, that it is tiring not to be valued, not to be listened to and even worse to be humiliated; You have to have memory, be empathetic with the person next to you, because If I am not, I undoubtedly cannot be on a team.“Julieta Cruz remarked.

Resignations from the Argentine National Team: why the players left

In a strong criticism of the administration of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), they reported: “At the end of the training we received a ham and cheese sandwich with a bananahaving to get home around 3 or 4 p.m., knowing that we have colleagues who return by public transport“.

Under the argument that “there is no money”, furthermore, for this date FIFA The players did not receive the usual money for travel expensesgiven that both matches will be in the Buenos aires cityand they won’t have a remuneration for playing friendlies.

Faced with this scenario, the players decided to step aside and no longer be part of the Argentine National Team. “For my part, I decide not to continue showing my face, putting the chest for people who only appear for the photo, phear which They are not interested in women’s football growing. I decide not to continue being part of the setback,” said Benítez, with a strong criticism of the local soccer authorities.

For his part, Olivero said goodbye by saying: “With a broken heart and a thousand illusions that are fading little by little. My wish for this year and those that follow? That generations to come can enjoy and be happy running behind the circle, like perhaps at some point we were,” she said.

Estefanía Banini explained why she decided to no longer play for the Argentine National Team

Estefania Baninione of the historical emblems of the Argentine National Team, like the new disaffected ones, had already announced that he would not continue on the team.

A few weeks ago she explained the reason for her absence: “There are many players who are not here for non-football reasons. We were exhausted by the lack of interest in the female branchthat’s why we took a step aside, we believed it was the ideal step. It was not an easy decision. I speak for myself, but several players have experienced this. None has left just because she wanted to, but because different mistreatment, because we believe that women’s soccer in Argentina can improve,” he had expressed, in the same sense as the players who announced today that they will not continue on the team either.

Based on the new resignations, Banini He referred to the situation again on his social networks and expressed: “Matter of time. Thank you for daring to speak.”

Women’s soccer in Argentina: between advances and setbacks, the fight for better conditions continues

After the 2019 World Cup in France, and after long protests by the team members themselves, women’s soccer made important progress in Argentina. Until the strong claim raised by the players in the 2018 Copa América, They had spent 18 months without competing, they were not even paid the per diem to go to training, they did not have cleats or clothing in good condition and they had to play on synthetic grass.

In addition to achieving great progress in all these senses, it was achieved in March 2019 professionalization of sport. This implies that all First A clubs must have a minimum of 8 contracts per squad – although the salary was equivalent to that of the men’s First C.

Although progress in recent years has been notable, Situations like those shared by the players this Monday mean a strong setback for the sport.