Sevilla players pay ‘It’s Over’ tribute to Hermoso in Rubiales battle

Sevilla players paid tribute to Spanish women’s team star Jenni Hermoso and the country’s other top female footballers ahead of their 2-1 defeat by Girona on Saturday in La Liga.

Hermoso, 33, was forcibly kissed on the lips by Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales at the Women’s World Cup final medal ceremony on Sunday.

World football governing body FIFA suspended Rubiales on Saturday, while on Friday 81 Spain players including Hermoso said they would not play for the women’s national team while the current “leadership” continued.

Sevilla players wore warm-up t-shirts with the phrase “It’s Over” written on the front in Spanish, which several Spain women’s players and Hermoso herself had used on Friday on social media and in statements, apparently referring to Rubiales’ reign in Spain.

La Roja’s World Cup final goalscoring hero Olga Carmona watched the match from the presidential box at Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, less than a week after she netted the winning goal against England in Sydney, only to find out after the game her father had died.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s Europa League winners have now lost their opening three matches in a dismal start to La Liga, in which they are bottom.

Earlier Cadiz players came out for their 1-1 draw against Almeria with a banner reading “We are all Jenni”.