As Jenni Hermoso and the rest of the 2023 Women’s World Cup-winning team rebel against the Spanish FA and now-suspended president, Luis Rubiales, England’s Ella Toone appeared on BBC Breakfast to share a message of unified support from the Lionesses.
There are no words to express how much love and pride we have for this lot.
Joining the coach on Tuesday 29 August, the England and Manchester United forward was asked to give her feelings on the ongoing saga as Spain’s football federation is now investigating Rubiales for kissing Hermoso without consent, as well as a variety of other controversies within the national team.
Not hesitating for a second to praise what she and the rest of her teammates have hailed as an incredible squad in the World Cup final earlier this month, Toone went on to say that the nonconsensual kiss was simply unacceptable.
Ella Toone gives her verdict on Hermoso, Rubiales and the ongoing scandal.
“It’s not the best”, said Toone, adding that “Spain were unbelievable throughout that tournament” and while the fact that they won their first Women’s World Cup “should be the main talking point… It’s been overshadowed by something that happened after the game that is unacceptable and the Lionesses all stand by Jenni Hermoso.”
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Last week, after reports that the women’s team are now refusing to play until Rubiales resigns and the majority of the coaching staff have now walked out, Sarina Wiegman and her side shared a message of solidarity, stating “We all stand with you, @jennihermoso and all players of the Spanish team.”
“Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation,” they wrote. “Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth. The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.
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Being asked to reflect on what motivated them to share the heartfelt message, the 23-year-old said the idea was posed by “some of the leaders in the squad” but assured it was one they “all believed in and wanted to put out as a team”, adding they now just “want the right thing to be done”.
The treatment of female Spanish players over the past year alone is by no means limited to what he has dismissed as a mere “peck”.
The systemic abuse isn’t new. It’s not only the one who commits the action but those who enable the violator & others to continue abuse. In words of @ChristenPress women shouldn’t have to win to finally be heard. #SeAcabópic.twitter.com/l9ugFIBJTh
With countless members of the squad having refused to play under equally controversial manager, Jorge Vilda, at points, and allegations of mistreatment at various levels throughout the national team, the narrative seems to be increasingly one of a systemic problem in women’s football in the country.
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With 15 players having previously signed an email that claimed they had been subjected to “situations that affect our emotional and personal state, our performance, and consequently the results of the national team” earlier, people have similarly been calling for Vilda to be sacked for some time.
Although the specifics of what the players alleged are not entirely known, footage of the 42-year-old coach touching a female member of his backroom staff’s breast whilst on the touchline at the World Cup has also been shared online.
The more evidence that continues to come light, the louder the cries for both of them to resign get, and people are now taking to the streets across Spain under one message: ‘Se acabó’ — i.e. ‘it’s over’ and there will be ‘no more’ instances of female professional footballers being abused.
Huge protests in central Madrid tonight showing support and solidarity with Jenni Hermoso, and demanding change. #SeAcabó. Enough is enough.https://t.co/sMLpa9bhBj
As Toone went on to say, “it’s a tough situation” for the Spanish national team and “it’s sad that we’re still talking about things like [Rubiales] misconduct” when both countries should be focusing on simply celebrating their teams’ achievements.
She concluded by saying that Spain’s FA president should “definitely” vacate his post, insisting that it’s “too far gone now for an apology… it’s much bigger than that now, so hopefully the right thing is done. He needs to move on”.
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Regarding Vilda, he is one of the few members of the coaching staff who has remained part of the team but there is growing pressure for him to follow his boss on the way out and to also face investigation.
Earlier this week, the BBC also came under fire whilst reporting on the entire scandal after they mistakenly used images of a Manchester City legend when referencing Luis Rubiales.
‘Nothing is eternal’: Is Pep Guardiola hinting at the end of Manchester City’s supremacy?
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola looks to have suggested that more than a decade of Manchester City’s supremacy and Premier League dominance at the very least might be coming to an end.
Speaking in his post-match press interviews after City were knocked out of the Champions League by serial European Cup winners Real Madrid, Guardiola cut a somewhat more deflated figure than usual following the 3-1 defeat.
A Kylian Mbappe hattrick which was closed out within an hour of play was enough to stretch the aggregate score to 6-3 over the two legs and Madrid doubling their lead across the tie proved yet again why, not unlike City domestically over the last decade, they’re the kings of the continental competition.
In contrast, however, Pep seemed to accept the loss much more easily than perhaps we’ve seen in the past and rather than appearing familiarly frustrated or defiant in the press conference; instead, he seemed rather reflective, responding to one reporter: “Nothing is eternal”.
🗣️ "Nothing is eternal" – Pep Guardiola.
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Insisting that they have to decide whether a significant rebuild is needed to keep competing at the very top level consistently as they have done since the 54-year-old arrived back in 2016, he argued that it is only with that they’ll be able to determine what comes next.
As for the result itself, he made no bones about Carlo Ancelotti’s side having “deserved it”, stating simply that “the best team won” and that fans and players alike have to “accept the reality: they were better.”
Having been a familiar foe for Pep long before he arrived in Manchester, both at Barcelona and Bayern Munich – not to mention City having faced Los Blancos a dozen times before Tuesday night since 2012 – there have been less surprising outcomes for supporters to come to terms with.
“With time, the club and everyone is going to accept what it is but for now we have 30/40 games for the Premier League next season to try and be here [in the Champions League] and to improve. Nothing is eternal”, said the Catalan coaching genius.
On the other hand, he also went on to add that it was merely a reflection on the night itself and not what his team have achieved in recent years.
He went on to remark that “when we were playing outstanding it hurt more” to be knocked out of the UCL when he felt they deserved to stay in it, but still insisted: “We have been unbelievable and we have to try step by step to get better from today.” Tonight just wasn’t the night.
Who knows? Perhaps it was just some more melodrama from a manager with an undeniable flare for pageantry and playing into/in the face of narratives when he doesn’t come out on top – which hasn’t happened all that often until their dip in form this season.
Plus, there’s certainly still plenty for him and the fans to be positive about; not only has the arrival of their ‘Egyptian Prince’ and the media’s Mo Salah successor, Omar Marmoush, got plenty of people excited – especially after that first-half hattrick against Newcastle – but so too have the other January signings.
In fact, for all of his downplaying in this particular presser (which you can hear in full HERE), it felt like there were only upsides after their victory over Newcastle, even going so far as to dub new signing Nico Gonzalez a ‘mini-Rodri‘.
You can watch the highlights from the game down below:
Pep is right, nothing is eternal – but sometimes you just come up against talents like Mbappe and there’s very little anyone can do about it.
Sale Sharks sign highly-rated Harlequins hooker, Nathan Jibulu
Danny Jones
Sale Sharks are investing in youth with their latest bit of transfer business after signing one of the Harlequins’ hottest prospects, Nathan Jibulu.
The highly-rated hooker, who has already nine appearances this season, including more than half a dozen in the Gallagher Premiership, has been exciting plenty of scouts throughout rugby union and is already firmly in national team plans.
Having already been part of the England Under-20 and A squads, not to mention impressing at club level in a relatively short space of time, it’s a big coup for Sale.
From the Quins academy to the right side of Shark-infested waters.
Jibulu joined the Twickenham-based outfit back in 2022 just a year after they won their second English championship (a full decade since their first) after previously attending Seaford College and representing nearby Wimbledon Warriors.
However, now the six-foot and seriously strong forward will be swapping the life near the capital for the North and Greater Manchester, specifically.
Set to join Sale Sharks for the 2025/26 season – scheduled to kick off in September – he’s looking like a really strong addition to their front row and a future squads to come.
Speaking to the club in an official statement, he said: “When I was younger, whenever someone asked me, ‘what team would you want to play for?’ I’d always say Sale…
“I’ve scrummed a lot with Asher [Opoku-Fordjour] and I got to know him pretty well. I always tell him how special and different he is, and I can’t wait to play with him.
“The way the club has developed him and nurtured him to become an established Premiership and England player speaks volumes about the coaching and the support that he’s getting at Sale.
“The entire front row is in the England squad, with the Curry boys too, so that tells you that someone at the club is doing something right. I looked at that and I said, ‘why would you not want to be there?’”
Still just 22 years old and having made just as many appearances for his soon-to-be former club, Sale weren’t the only ones chasing his signature.
Jibulu went on to add: “I love those games where you go toe-to-toe physically, so all of that attracted me straight away, and then speaking to people who are there already, they said all the stuff that I really like so it was a no brainer when the opportunity came about.”
As for his impending coach, Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Nathan is really driven, he understands what he wants from his life and his career, and he knows how he’s going to get it.
“He’s a young lad but he’s incredibly mature and he’s got the game and the physical attributes to match. I’ve got no doubt he’ll play for England in the future and we’re really excited to bring him to the club.”
Currently sat seventh in the table after another at times promising but somewhat frustrating start to the year, the summer can’t come soon enough for Sale.
Danny Jones -
29th August 2023 
