Argentina’s players are rebelling against their working conditions

Ten of female soccer players Argentine gathered this Tuesday in Buenos Aires to denounce the lack of minimum conditions to compete and they remembered their partner Juliana Gómez, who died in a road accident when he was returning to a private car after playing.

“What we are bringing together here, unfortunately, is a fact that will happen because from this year, clubs from the interior of the country will join the Women’s Third Division. It was a great trip, but it discovered a problem lack of funds”, explained to EFE, Dina González, a former player of the First Division of women’s soccer.

The former player of Tigre, San Lorenzo and Platense made reference to the case of Juliana Gomezwho passed away on October 8 last year a accident automotive when returned in the province of Buenos Aires –in their own way– after playing a match in the neighboring province of Santa Fe under the jersey of the Argentine team of Merlo.

As Gonzalez described, the Argentine team of Merlo traveled in difficult conditions, in private vehicles throughout the night, when they arrive they don’t have time to rest, they have to eat “quickly”, play and go home.

Currently, the Second and Third categories in some cases do not receive salary or have “symbolic payments” for their work, this also translates to the “seriousness” with which some clubs take women’s competition.

For his part, Ailen Montiel, current First Division player, told EFE that the accident was the product of “neglect” of the club.

“You can’t let your players down go to represent your club in private cars, the club must provide you with the minimum conditions to have a micro (bus) available and provide what is necessary for one to carry out their work in the best possible way”, he remarked.

During the demonstration, which took place in front of the Argentine Congress, different banners were demanded “equal status” with men’s soccer and “laws protecting the rights” of female players.

“We are here to wish that girls from other categories can have a decent salary and professional, equality for all categories of soccer,” added Montiel, a player in the First Division of Women’s Soccer.

Halfway through the closing of the demonstration, the reading of a letter revealed the lack of basic resources, which has been claimed for many years, such as being a “noble” clothing food or medical equipment from the clubs themselves.

“Certainly people trained to lead of women’s soccer”, said Montiel.