The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is standing by women’s head coach Jorge Vilda after 15 players emailed them to say they would resign from the national team if he continued to take charge.
The emails, which were identical according to the RFEF, said that playing under Vilda was affecting their mental health.
But a strongly-worded statement said the players concerned had committed “a very serious infraction” by refusing to play that could lead to a suspension of up to five years from the national team.
RFEF also demanded apologies from those players involved if they want to represent Spain again, and stated they would use lower age-group players to bolster their squad in the meantime.
Local media reported the Spanish women’s team were in chaos last month, with players on the verge of a mutiny if the federation did not relieve Vilda of his duties.