Open Letter from Slovenia’s Women’s National Football Team Addressing Concerns about Unprofessional Atmosphere

Dominika Conc’s Tireless Battle for Equality in Women’s Football

In the world of women’s football, there is one player who refuses to remain silent. Dominika Conc, vice-captain of Slovenia’s national team, has been outspoken about the mistreatment and unequal conditions that female footballers face every day.

A Demand for Change:

In July, Conc and her teammates took a bold step by writing an open letter to the president of the Slovenian football federation (NZS). In this letter, they demanded the removal of head coach Borut Jarc and exposed a multitude of allegations including bullying, sexism, body-shaming, and inappropriate behavior within their training camp.

The environment had become unbearable. According to Conc, players endured unprofessionalism such as offensive comments filled with profanity directed at them. They were subjected to sexist remarks and even faced invasive discussions about their personal lives – all unrelated to their performance on the field.

These issues had persisted for five long years without any significant improvements. Players felt powerless – forced into a respect-out-of-fear relationship where speaking up was not an option. Many sought professional help from psychologists just to cope with these challenging circumstances.

An Industry-Wide Problem:

Conc’s brave statements come at a time when women’s football is grappling with several controversies around the globe. Following Spain’s victory over England in the Women’s World Cup final, Luis Rubiales – president of the Spanish football federation – sparked outrage when he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on live television without consent or justification.

A Plethora of Allegations:

The list of allegations made by the Slovenian players in their open letter is extensive. They accused Jarc of making inappropriate comments and claimed that coaches smuggled alcohol into training camps, openly consuming it during meals and after sessions. Furthermore, they alleged that staff members targeted players’ personal lives and sexual orientation.

Moreover, the players asserted that they were pressured to participate in a Euro 2022 qualifier despite being ill with Covid-19. They faced demeaning treatment regarding their body weight and had to fight for equality on the field – even demanding to wear jerseys matching those worn by Slovenia’s male counterparts.

A Lack of Empathy:

Prior to going public with their grievances, Conc and her teammates had attempted to engage in dialogue with NZS officials. However, this meeting only revealed a lack of interest from federation representatives towards women’s football concerns.

“They didn’t want to listen,” Conc recalls. “They dismissed us as if our voices did not matter.”

Frustrated by this indifference, Conc decided along with her colleagues at Levante Las Planas (her club team) that writing an open letter would be their best course of action – shedding light on the injustice they faced daily.

A Step Towards Change:

The resignation of coach Borut Jarc soon followed after the public exposure created significant pressure on NZS. In his resignation statement, Jarc denied any personal wrongdoing while expressing difficulties working under such circumstances. However, even with Jarc out of the picture, Dominika Conc remains skeptical about real change occurring within Slovenian football. “We know he was not alone,” she acknowledges cautiously. “The federation seemed obligated to have us; they lacked genuine support.” As female athletes continue battling for equal treatment both on and off the field, Dominika Conc’s unwavering determination serves as a reminder that progress cannot be achieved without raising our voices and demanding change.