Aitana Bonmatí has said Spain's victory at the 2023 Women's World Cup was “in vain” as little has changed in the infrastructure of women's football in the country.
Bonmatí, who holds the Women's Ballon d'Or and the women's FIFA The Best award, told French media L'Equipe that she is jealous of the England women's team after the response to the Lionesses' victory in the Euro 2022 championship.
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“Unfortunately, I can't say that much has changed,” Bonmatí said when asked about the impact of the World Cup victory. “We have the example of the English: when they won the Euro Cup, we saw a big change after the success at the national level.
“There were knock-on effects. Investment in the national league, full stadiums when England plays. It makes me want to because I can't say it's the same here.” [in Spain]. “There is still a lot to do here and I feel like the World Cup has been in vain.”
Bonmatí listed a series of elements that need to be improved to achieve greater equality in football in Spain.
“It all starts with doing things well, promoting the matches properly, wanting to organize them in suitable stadiums, not changing the pitch a week before the match, because that complicates everything for the fans,” said the 26-year-old. saying.
“The promotion of the league also… in the country in general, is not at the level we deserve.”
Bonmatí, who plays for F-League side Barcelona, cited the example of the Women's Nations League final against France on Wednesday as a demonstration of failures to adequately defend women's football.
“We had to play in Cádiz and in the end we changed location to play in La Cartuja [in Seville]. “That wouldn't happen to the men's team in a Nations League final,” he said.
“We have to pay attention to these details. When we do these things well, people respond.”
Spain qualified for the Olympics for the first time in its history by winning the Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands on Friday.
