Former Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze lauds ‘incredibly brave’ Spanish players

Lucy Bronze lauded Spain’s “incredibly brave” campaign against Luis Rubiales, who has been found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso without consent.

The Audiencia Nacional court in Spain ruled on Thursday that forward Hermioso was assaulted by Rubiales while she received her medal following Spain’s World Cup final triumph over England in 2023.

The court said it had imposed an 18-month fine equating to 20 euros a day on the former president of the Spanish football federation, who it found had kissed Hermoso without her consent during the medal ceremony after Spain won the tournament.

The ruling also prohibits Rubiales from going within 200 metres of Hermoso, or communicating with her, for one year.

Chelsea right-back Bronze, who played at Barcelona with members of Spain’s national team for two years, said the Lionesses stand with them.

Speaking before the verdict was announced on Thursday, the 33-year-old said: “I’m good friends with a lot of the players involved in it.

“Knowing them, I think it’s incredible what these players have had to go through.

“They’re in the court case, they’re speaking out and I think it’s incredibly brave. They’re fighting for change and change within the federation, it’s amazing.

“We stand by the Spanish players and we hope they get what they deserve and for them to enjoy their football as well.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly was handed a late call-up to England’s squad ahead of their Nations League opener against Portugal on Friday.

The winger, who scored the winner in England’s Euro 2022 final against Germany, was left out of Sarina Wiegman’s initial selection last week due to a lack of minutes in the Women’s Super League.

And her late inclusion comes after injuries to Arsenal team-mates Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Kelly marked her Arsenal return since joining from Manchester City on loan with a half an hour cameo off the bench in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over north-London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

“Of course she impressed in the half an hour,” manager Wiegman said.

“She needed more game time and was fully in training. But at the end of the day it’s also the quality, so maybe I should have expressed myself differently last week.

“We know she brings quality and she’s fit so with the injuries I thought it was good for the team and for her.”