Following Spain’s epic triumph in the recently concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup last week in Australia, Laia Codina has now joined the Arsenal Women football club. The 23-year-old defender moved to the Gunners side from Barcelona Femeni, where she helped the club win two major titles last season, the Liga F and Women’s Champions League.
Codina has been in scintillating form all season and played a crucial role in Spain’s historic world cup victory against England at Sydney on 20th of August. The win was historic for her and the entire Spanish team because this is The country’s first ever world cup win in history. Her performance throughout the world cup has been praised by critics and fellow team members, where she started the match for her team on four occasions and even provided several key assists to goal scorers.
Outside the field, Codina has also showcased her support for fellow team member Hemoso, who has been entangled in an unfortunate controversy involving RFEF president Luis Rubiales. The controversy in involves Rubiales kissing Hermoso on the lips during the medal distribution ceremony after Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup finale.
This gesture has been met with widespread criticism and garnered a lot of backlash from fans, critics, and fellow footballers. Rubiales has been widely condemned for the act as Spanish FA’s regional presidents have since been urging him to resign from his post of RFEF President.
Though Rubiales has stated that the kiss was “consensual” and hence has refused to step down from his position, Hermoso has stated that she did not consent to the kiss and felt uncomfortable when it happened. This has led to Spanish prosecutors opening a criminal investigation into the president, with 81 Spanish players, including the entire World Cup-winning squad, refusing to play until Rubiales quits or is sacked from his post as RFEF President Codina is one of the 81 players, currently refusing to play for Spain until under-fire Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales leaves his post.
