BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Spanish soccer is in turmoil after 15 female players quit the team, saying their coach had a "significant" impact on their emotions and health. Late Thursday, the federation said 15 players had been sent ... Photo by The Canadian Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish soccer is in turmoil after 15 players from the women's national team quit the team, saying they were " significantly" influenced. from their coach their "emotional state" and their health. Late Thursday, the league announced that 15 players had sent identical emails via email, blaming coach Jorge Vilda for the problems. An email sent by the players was published in local media on Friday. The federation confirmed to The Associated Press that the email was genuine and included the names of 15 players that did not include Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellast. The email did not directly call for Vilda's dismissal. It stated that "the general situation in the Spanish national team, resulting from the recent events of which (the federation) is aware, greatly affects my emotional state and therefore my health." "For this reason, I currently do not consider myself available for our national team and therefore ask you not to invite me until the situation changes. The email adds the "full commitment of the player to the team in the past, present and future". list of players include the team's third captain Patri Guijarro, goalkeeper Sandra Paños and attacking midfielder Aitana Bonmatí Earlier this month, Guijarro appeared in a press conference with team captain Irene Paredes and forward Jennifer Hermoso to explain their problems. Vilda Paredes and Hermoso are among the .15 who asked to leave the team. At that press conference, Paredes said the players never asked for Vilda's sacking, but he said they were not happy with the results of the team, which reached the quarter-finals at the Euros in July before losing to eventual champions England 2. -1. "It's a difficult moment," Paredes said. - We are an ambitious team and we want to develop and win. We believe that different internal aspects (of the team) need improvement." Guijarro then said that "there is general dissatisfaction among the team with what we went through at the end of the Eurocup. We thought we had a group that could win titles. We think and feel this way. After the Eurocup, the group sent a message to our coach. Vilda also spoke about the breakdown between the teams of the European Championship played in England. - The atmosphere in the team has always been good, said Vilda. "During the first 15 days of the Europcup (camp), the atmosphere was positive. Then the games started and something changed. We were in football paradise and I hope we can go back there in the future. We have a team of good players and we are just one step away from being a great team. At that press conference, none of the players mentioned their mental health. This has led to speculation in the Spanish media that there may be more than just disappointment behind the decision. Ana Álvarez, head of women's football at the Spanish Football Association, defended Vilda's professionalism. While Álvarez said he did not question the emotional distress the players suffered, he said there were no reports of verbal or sexist abuse similar to that experienced by former players against Vilda's predecessor, Ignacio Quereda, who was replaced by Vilda in 2015. . Quereda resigned after his players publicly called on the union to get rid of him for bad-mouthing him in the build-up to the 2015 World Cup. Former players later accused him of psychologically abusing him during his nearly thirty-year tenure with sexist and homophobic language. "Nothing like this has ever happened (under Vilda)," Álvarez told Cadena SER radio late Thursday. "We are all professionals and there was never anything wrong with it. Nothing that you would think happened. That would be very serious." The Spanish Football Association said the players would not be allowed to return until they "ask for forgiveness." Spain will play a friendly against Sweden on October 7 and the United States on October 11. They will announce their squads. for those matches next week, Álvarez said that the federation invites younger and less experienced players to complete their team if necessary. The union comes first, he said. ___
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