Spain’s Aitana Bonmati during a training session at Wembley Stadium, London. Spain will face England in their second UEFA Women’s Nations League match tomorrow. Picture date: Tuesday February 25, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Spain Women. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial […]PAAITANA BONMATI reckons Spain have become even stronger after “suffering” in their equality battle.The La Roja playmaker hailed Sarina Wiegman and England’s stars for sympathising with her team’s ordeal.ReutersAitana Bonmati hopes Spain’s national women’s team will be better respected following sexual assault conviction of ex-Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales[/caption]PABonmati and her Spain team-mates are set to face England at Wembley in the Women’s Nations League[/caption]ReutersBonmati was speaking in support of her national team-mate Jenni Hermoso who filed a criminal complaint against Rubiales[/caption]ReutersRubiales kissing Hermoso on the mouth after the 2023 World Cup final sparked outrage and protests in Spain[/caption]Bonmati, 27, was speaking earlier Tuesday ahead of Spain’s Wembley duel with the Lionesses on Wednesday night. The February 25 clash comes six days after Luis Rubiales, 47, was convicted of sexual assault following a trial at Spain’s High Court. The former Spanish Football Federation boss was found guilty of kissing Spain striker Jenni Hermoso, 34, on the mouth without her consent. However Rubiales, who was fined 10,800 euros (£8,274), but spared a prison sentence, was acquitted of a separate charge of coercion.The controversial incident occurred shortly after Hermoso’s side beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney, Australia August 2023. A month later Rubiales resigned following Fifa banning him from football for three years, after initially resisting calls to stand down After the ex-Spanish football chief was acquitted of allegedly attempting to pressure Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual, the 110-capped striker said she intends to appeal. And she hopes the outcome of the case, which sparked nationwide protests in her country, has set an “important precedent”. Barcelona star Bonmati said: “Everybody here knows what has happened in the last few months and years. “The sentence is correct, it is a positive thing and the team feels the same. “I was surprised there was no sentence linked to coercion but the trial has served a purpose. “We are all happy. We have been doing well on the pitch and supporting our teammates. “We have battled hard and we know what we have done has not been in vain.“I hope this case makes changes in our country, in our football, to respect us better as footballers. “But it’s also a global case. I don’t want to only speak about footballers as I think this happens in other jobs. “I hope this case helps anyone who is going through these things.”Lucy Bronze and Alessia Russo are among the Lionesses who have spoken out in support of Spain’s stars. Bronze, who joined Chelsea last July, played for two years with Bonmati at Barcelona after joining the club in June 2022. Sarina Wiegman and her England aces have been supportive of Spain’s players’ pushing for federation changes and better working conditions. And two-time Euros-winning boss Wiegman hopes their ordeal leads to changes for the better for their team. The Lioness gaffer said: “It’s a testament to the players to be so brave to speak out but also to still be performing at the level they are.“It’s really a shame that they’ve had to go through this.”Bonmati added: “I heard Sarina speaking a lot of times and supporting us with our issues.“I appreciate her words and also Lucy Bronze’s and Alessia Russo’s. PAEngland boss Sarina Wiegman said Spain players’ were “brave to speak out”[/caption]“We didn’t feel alone on this issue. “They also feel it’s a global case not only a Spanish case.“They feel our suffering and they support us so I appreciate that a lot.”