‘Brave of individuals to speak out’ – Lucy Bronze on Spain players after Luis Rubiales verdict | OneFootball

Lucy Bronze has lauded the bravery of Spain players amidst the Luis Rubiales trial, following the non-consensual kiss in the aftermath of their World Cup victory.

Spain’s former football federation boss Rubiales was on Thursday found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso, and ordered to pay a fine of more than 10,000 euros.

The England defender pledged her support towards the Spanish national team, including some of her former teammates from her time at Barcelona.

The 33-year-old said: “I think it’s incredibly brave of all the individuals and the team collectively – not only winning the World Cup and the media on the outside of it, but they’re in a court case and they’re speaking out.

“They’re fighting for change, which is not just in that court case, but they’re also making changes in the federation. I think it’s amazing.

“I’m good friends with a lot of the players who are involved in it and as we watch on, me personally and us as a team, we stand by the Spanish players. We wish them all the best, we want them to get what they deserve and we want them to just enjoy their football as well.

“I’ve been there last year at Barcelona and watching the players go through all the ordeals after the World Cup – it was challenging off the pitch as well for them.

“It would just be nice for them to be able to get back to their football and focus on that because they’re incredible people and they’re unbelievable players as well.”

Bronze also praised her England teammates Millie Bright, for speaking out about recent online abuse, and Ella Toone, for speaking about the recent grief she has gone through as a result of losing her father.

“It’s amazing [that female players use their platform],” she added. “I think it’s something that we stand for in women’s sport especially.

“And I think when you watch another player do it – like watching Millie [Bright] stand up for herself – it gives you a little bit of something as well, that you can stand up for yourself or that people are hearing us.

“Everyone’s using their platform to make change and to try and be positive and to do the right things. I think that’s something that’s really special about women’s sport in general. We all have each other’s backs, we all try to empower each other.

“Sadly there is that negative side to the sport in general. But the fact that we’re trying to make change, we want the world to be a better place, the sports that we play to be better places, we want to be safe, we want to bring joy and excitement and that’s why we all play the sport.

“So to use our platforms to try and push those things forward, make change for the good for all the little girls and boys, I think that’s something that we hold really dear to our hearts and the reason why we do stand up and do want to speak out.

“I think it’s something when you’re in a team environment especially, you do feel that sense of togetherness, empowerment when you have a teammate who’s showing vulnerability.

“Ella Toone’s a great example of it. I think every single one of us, whether we play for United or not, seeing her come back after her injury and do so well, having known all the difficulties that she went through and then speaking up about it, even now it gives me goosebumps thinking about it – how brave she was, how strong she was to speak out, to come back and to do so well.

“It’s something that we’re all so proud of – female athletes on our own team, standing up and speaking out.”

The Lionesses play their opening UEFA Women’s Nations League fixture against Portugal on Friday 21 February, before facing world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday 26 February.