Alexia Putellas has mentioned Spain‘s footballers are fighting for modifications beyond simply football because the fallout to Luis Rubiales’ behaviour after final month’s World Cup remaining continues.

Rubiales resigned from his function as Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president earlier this week after a number of investigations have been opened into his conduct following Spain’s 1-0 win over England on Aug. 20, which included an unsolicited kiss on ahead Jenni Hermoso.

– Rubiales explainer: Criminal charges, possible punishments, more

Speaking after Barcelona Femení had turn into the primary sports activities workforce to win the Medal of Honour — a prestigious award given by the Catalan parliament — again-to-again Ballon d’Or winner Putellas referred to the occasions of the previous month.

“This distinction is a paradigm shift,” Putellas mentioned. “We are the first men’s or women’s team to be distinguished with this Medal of Honour — this would have been unthinkable five, 15, 20 years ago, but it has happened.

“This has not been achieved from scratch, so I wish to thank all these pioneers who, earlier than our arrival, promoted girls’s sport at Barca or in different organisations. This medal additionally belongs to them, we’re very conscious of that.”

The Medal of Honour was launched in 2000 and previous winners include recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, former presidents and the first responders during the 2017 terrorist attacks in Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola, in 2011, is the only previous winner related to sport.

“At Barca, we’re serving to to construct a fairer, extra equal society with extra alternatives by means of football. Our efforts and our victories are making us some extent of reference for many kids, younger folks and adults,” Putellas added.

“Our dedication to girls’s sport and society is unquestionable, however we’d like extra assist to continue to grow, in order that this isn’t only a fad. And right here, if I could, I wish to demand extra help for girls’s football, extra and higher services, extra pitches and extra funding at grassroots degree.

“Institutions must ensure that everyone, boys and girls alike, have the same opportunities to play football. We want all the girls who come after us to have the tools they need to enjoy themselves, to play, to win.

“We are right here to remain, to assist people who come after us, as a result of there’s nonetheless an extended option to go, as we’re seeing lately with the intense scenario we face with the [RFEF] and the modifications we’re all asking for in order that no girl, inside or outdoors football, ever has to stay a scenario of disrespect or abuse.

“We need consensus, courage and leadership from the institutions. We will not stop here, those who fought before us deserve it, we deserve it for the effort we make every day and all the girls and boys who today dream of being like us deserve it. We will not fail you.”

Barca got the award due to their success on the pitch but in addition due to the broader repercussions that has had on sport in Catalonia, particularly for women.

The Blaugrana have received 4 league titles in a row, two of the final three Champions Leagues and twice stuffed Spotify Camp Nou, breaking the attendance file in girls’s football within the course of.

Even with a number of members of the Barça squad refusing to go the World Cup because of a dispute with the RFEF, they have been strongly represented in Australia and New Zealand, with eight players concerned within the remaining.

That success has since been tainted by the fallout surrounding Rubiales, who is because of testify in courtroom as a defendant on Friday.

He is dealing with expenses of sexual assault for the unsolicited kiss and coercion for placing strain on Hermoso and her household to launch statements justifying the occasions, in keeping with prosecutors.

Rubiales’ conduct can be being investigated by FIFA and Spain’s high sports activities courtroom [TAD].