Spain women’s decision to end their boycott should be a “turning point” for society, says Alexia Putellas.
Most of the players ended their boycott of the national team after reaching agreement with the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Wednesday.
The RFEF had committed to “immediate and profound changes”, said Victor Francos, secretary of state for sports.
“It could be a point where there’s a before and after, I really think so,” said Barcelona midfielder Putellas.
Players began the boycott after then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s triumph over England in the Women’s World Cup final on 20 August.
The kiss, which Hermoso said was not consensual, eventually led to Rubiales’ resignation, while Spain manager Jorge Vilda was sacked.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas, 29, added: “I believe that the agreements that we stayed up all night for, will make our sport and women’s sport, and in consequence society, a lot better.”
The agreement to end the boycott was reached at 05:00 local time on Wednesday after more than seven hours of meetings between players, RFEF officials, the Spanish government’s national sports agency (CSD) and women’s players’ union Futpro.
“We were detecting over many decades, too many, systematic discrimination against the women’s team,” said Putellas.
“We had to fight a lot to be listened to. This wears you down, in a way that we don’t want to happen.”
After new head coach Montse Tome called up her Nations League squad on Monday, players published a statement saying the boycott remained in place.
However, they reported for international duty on Tuesday because they could have faced fines or a ban from the national side had they stayed away.
Two players, Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, did then choose to leave the squad, though Francos said they would not face sanctions, describing their decision as “absolutely respectable”.
Training for Friday’s Nations League match against Sweden resumed following Wednesday’s breakthrough talks, but Barcelona defender Irene Paredes said players did not feel completely comfortable returning to the national team.
“We decided to stay, not exactly because we are comfortable, given the whole situation all month and how we were called up,” the former Spain captain said.
“But it’s what we think we have to do, for the deals that were made to happen, and for all this to advance.”
Paredes added that the group felt responsibility for Spain’s Under-23 players, who may have had to fill in if the senior team refused to play.
“It’s like passing a bomb to players with maybe less experience,” she said.
“All we want to do is play football in dignified conditions where we are respected. That’s why we are trying to change things so in some [future] moment, all that the players have to do is play.”
Following Wednesday’s agreement, the RFEF sacked general secretary Andreu Camps and apologised to players for what happened after the Women’s World Cup final – adding it had “accelerated” the “profound changes” promised to players.
Rubiales has been banned from going within 200 metres of Hermoso after she filed a legal complaint.
Appearing in court for the first time on Friday, Rubiales denied sexually assaulting Hermoso.
Tome confident of future as Spain boss
Tome was appointed as Spain’s new head coach after World Cup winning coach Vilda was sacked earlier this month amid the ongoing Rubiales scandal.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has said in a BBC column that Tome does not have the players’ confidence because she is seen as a continuation of Vilda’s regime, having been his assistant for five years.
There are reports that players have demanded her dismissal after their next two Nations League matches, though Tome has said that no player has made this request to her.
“I have confidence, confidence in the job, desire that this is all solved, and desire to work. That’s what I have,” Tome said.
Putellas also denied the players had asked for any coach to be sacked.
“We’re not qualified to kick anyone out… we just want to play, and score,” she said.
However, the Barcelona midfielder also added there should be “zero tolerance” for anyone “who has hidden, applauded or incited abuse”.