The president of Liga F, Beatriz Álvarez, is not at all satisfied with various issues that directly concern the entity she runs. The president has attended EL MUNDO and has shown her complaints to the Government and the Federation, but also her joy at the evolution that women's football is experiencing in Spain and has revealed all the things she hopes to achieve in the coming years.

What is your assessment of the F League this season? We have achieved great milestones and we are satisfied for having achieved part of the objectives. Among them is all the part of commercial income that we have obtained, the audiovisual sale and the power to broadcast all the matches. I also highlight the creation of this entire structure, of a differentiated brand that we are beginning to build. In a year we have not had time to expand, but in the end we work towards that goal. In addition, we try to transmit values that can differentiate us, and in that part we are very satisfied. We believe that there are still many challenges and objectives to be met and it is true that it has been a very difficult year. All the barriers that have been placed on us have allowed us to grow at a slower rate and are being inconvenient right now. How do you assess the growth of this sport? I think we are a bit of a benchmark for all those women who play sports, and even in other social settings. There are other leagues at a level that are very interested in knowing what steps have been taken to get to this point. It is true that 2015 marked an important milestone. It is when for the first time the clubs decide to associate and start working together with a common goal, which was to be able to become professional.. When we established ourselves as an association, we did not think that this moment would arrive, we believed that we were working so that future generations could enjoy it.. What we did not know was that we were going to have the privilege of being able to live it on the front line. Getting here has been very important and it has been thanks to the work of many people, who have altruistically believed in this when no one did. What support do they receive from the institutions? Well, the President of the Government has said that if the president of the League is complaining, maybe something can be improved. That Pedro Sánchez made these statements is important to us. It is seen that there is a self-criticism and that there are things that can be done. Betting on a league is not only providing it with economic resources, it is giving it autonomy to let it grow. This is what the Government has not understood from the first moment. The professional League is approved with an unfavorable report from the Federation, which did not believe it convenient to have a women's league. In addition, in the different resolutions it has been consenting that this other party would make this project more unsustainable every day and that it would gradually suffocate the clubs. It is misunderstood that a government, which has opted for this project, is now consenting to a third party suffocating and drowning us. Not only because of the 20% of commercial income that we have to give to the Federation, but because it takes away our autonomy, because in some way it deprives us of the possibility of reaching agreements without the consent of the Federation and subjects us to the decisions that are made in men's soccer.. As if we had no capacity to decide for ourselves. In spite of everything, he comments that the Government has made a little self-criticism, during the electoral campaign, where many promises are made. Has something been proposed to you? I read a self-criticism in the words of President Sánchez. However, the Secretary of State has never been self-critical, rather the opposite. He has continually tried to justify himself by saying that through public subsidies everything is done and that there is a political commitment. I would ask you to reflect on the latest decisions that the Higher Sports Council has made and if you consider that they are neutral.. For our part, we are clear that it is not being consistent and that only public aid is not enough. In addition to the fact that the figures that are transferred do not exactly correspond to reality. The president of the CSD recently said in an interview: “The commitment to women's football in Spain is historic.” I can perfectly say that it is time for equality. This is not a question of political groups, but rather a commitment to equality in the different sectors. Within women's sport, soccer has probably been an advantage. The project of this league was really easy to promote politically. It coincided with a time of pandemic, where everything was bad news, where sport was stopped and promoting something could be seen as something positive.. With all this, I think that the Government had all the ingredients to classify this league as professional, except for one, which was the approval of the Federation and who it knew would be dissatisfied. I believe that the CSD feels indebted to her and in some way has tried, after having opted for this and having provided us with economic resources, to satisfy in its resolutions those who were not satisfied and had lost control of the competition. It has given them, not only part of the subsidy that it gives us, but concessions and issues that they had been claiming and requesting for months. As president of the Women's League. What do you claim for the next seasons? I ask for autonomy. That they let us try, that they grant us, at least, the doubt of being able to make the F League a sustainable league, that it continues to generate resources, interest, that it be differentiated from the men's league and that they let us grow to be able to export our product abroad and not just become a competition organization. We want to be a symbol and a change of social transformation. That is not achieved with money, it is done with autonomy. It is what they are cutting us off and it is much more painful than the fact that they do not give you money. Where do you see that you do not have autonomy? From the moment they have consented to a stoppage due to an arbitration situation, which was not generated by the collegiates, but by the Federation, they have taken away our autonomy and they have taken away our power vis-à-vis the Federation. In the different resolutions that they have issued and since the arbitration conflict, it has been one after another. Given the different situations in which we have asked them to mediate, the situation has favored the Federation to satisfy them, probably due to the loss of control of this league or for whatever reason they believe.

Beatriz Álvarez, president of the women's soccer league Javi Martinez Mundo Do you think the Federation is against this league? I'm not telling you. They have said it with an unfavorable report that they raised to the CSD board of directors for the creation of this Professional Women's Soccer League. How is it possible that there is an unfavorable report taking into account the milestones that have been achieved these years? I really could not defend any argument, they would have to defend it. What I think is that they did not want to lose control of this competition, but there were no arguments for not betting.. The product had already grown enough to be able to be televised. There are many things that can be improved. They have had all the years of their history to show that they were capable of professionalizing women's soccer, of making us the case that we deserved and that we needed and now it seems that they want to do it when it is no longer theirs. To what extent is there inequality between the men's and women's leagues? We fall into the error of comparing two completely different industries. Both are football, the same sport, but in the industrial part we are completely different. The masculine generates close to 2,000 million audiovisual income. The feminine, this year in which we have put ourselves on the market we have generated six. We come from zero and we have begun to enter between the commercial and audiovisual part 77 million for the next five years. It continues to be incomparable with the men's industry, but not only football, but the rest of Spanish sport for both sexes. One of the things that has generated the most controversy in the face of the World Cup has been the sale of television rights, because in Europe there have been five countries that almost were left without being able to broadcast it. With respect to the Women's League, how difficult was it for you to obtain those rights? We have launched an open and totally public procedure in which we gave the possibility for any operator or interested party to show us an offer. There were more offers than the final. The one that put up the most money won and the one that gives us the opportunity not only to broadcast the matches here nationally, but also internationally. Also with respect to the World Cup. How do you appreciate that there are so many players from the Women's League who play in the World Cup? Well, it says a lot and well about what we are working on and what the F League is becoming. In the end, we are one of the leading leagues right now at a European and world level. We are in constant contact with all. We have common chats in which we exchange synergies and issues that are important to grow and to do self-criticism. Within the model of each one, it is true that we are being a benchmark and it is satisfying to see that so many footballers who play in our league are in the World Cup, from the American, African or South American market.. In the end it is a privilege to have them with us. Is there something from the other leagues that you would like to implement in the Spanish one? There is one thing common to all of them, which is that they all feel support from their Federation. I would like this to happen in Spain and to promote. From UEFA and FIFA itself, all policies are aimed at supporting women's football. In fact, the Federation collects aid to promote women's football. Instead of boosting us, they take us away. What future prospects do you see for this women's league? I want to imagine that in a few years, I don't know if in five or ten, we manage to generate a product in the sports area that is attractive enough to retain many more people, that stadiums begin to open or that players can regularly compete in stadiums. This year, for example, Eibar opens Ipurúa for all matches, it is an important milestone. I also hope that we can bring in much more money so that the players can improve their conditions, that the clubs become sustainable, that we can match income to expenses, to reduce the indebtedness that they still have today, and that we can create sustainable professional infrastructures.

Jon Rahm blew up the Open Championship. The Spanish golfer signed 63 shots on the third day, the lowest round of his career in majors, and broke the best record ever achieved in an Open at Royal Liverpool by two. Despite everything, he finished six shots from his head, seeing his chances of becoming the second player from our country reduced this Sunday, after the three victories of Severiano Ballesteros, who conquered the British Open.

Rahm took the field after 11:30 a.m. on a quieter-than-expected Saturday, with barely a light breeze and no rain.. That was his start. 'Bowtie' on hole one with a birdie putt from 12 meters; missed opportunity on the 2 from 3 meters; in the three from less than six and in the four from less than five. The first par five, hole five, ended in the bunker.

Despite the good feelings of the Spaniard, he had not finished starting the round, but 'Rahmbo's' patience would be rewarded on the green of that same hole, with the first birdie of the day from four meters. “Perhaps the key moment came with the par on the 8th hole and the birdie on the 9th”, said the Barrika player in reference to the good approach and putt on the 8th hole and the enormous putt from seven meters to achieve the second birdie of the day.

Masterpiece

From there, the gear of the game of the Masters winner seemed to fit perfectly, and he starred in ten epic holes for the history of the majors.. Seven birdies in 10 holes, a masterpiece on one of the most difficult courses in the entire rotation.

As the birdies progressed together with the Korean Sungjae Im, more public was joining the match, which ended up packed and dotted with a special magic with overtones of collective hysteria. The “Olé, olé, olé!” to the piercing cries of “Rahmbo!” and the occasional cheer in Spanish from the Spanish fans who were able to enjoy this historic day.

Rahm birdied holes 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 18 to get into the outcome of a tournament where he was not invited. The one from Barrika finished tied for 89th place after the first 18 holes, and at the moment is second with the last 18 remaining.. There is only one similar reference in the history of the greats: American Steve Jones won the 1996 US Open, finishing tied for 84th place on Thursday.

aggressive mentality

“I knew from hole 1 that I could mess it up”. Despite his enormous disadvantage, it was Rahm himself who was most confident in his own possibilities.. He came out aggressive from the first hole and the confidence of good shots off the tee soon translated to the rest of his game.. “Today has been one of those days in which I feel invincible,” he said after the historic round. His gesture was not one of euphoria or satisfaction, it was that of responsibility in the face of a mission that will be difficult to complete.

Never before had a Spaniard achieved 63 strokes in a major. Not even Seve managed to deliver that figure in his beloved British Open. When, after the day, a local journalist alluded to this milestone, waiting for the Spaniard's reaction, Rahm didn't take long to respond with his usual perspicacity. “I prefer to win the Open three times (like Seve) and never do 63. I hope that with that answers your question,” he said, assuming the complications before the outcome.

Brian Harman responded to the enormous pressure of a major Saturday in hostile territory. His 69 shots (-2) were enough to maintain a comfortable advantage (-12) of five with his compatriot Cameron Young and six with respect to Rahm, who will go out this Sunday with the Norwegian Victor Hovland in the penultimate game.

Adrián Otaegui, who started in the top 10, suffered much more than expected and his +6 left him in 63rd place, with an accumulated result of +4.

Rafa Muñoz appears for the Canoe in Madrid or for the Club Mediterráneo in Málaga or for La Venatoria in León and explains to the kids the tricks of swimming with a butterfly. It is done like this. It's done that way. A clinic, wow. “And I notice that, later, in the locker room, they search for me on Google. When they go out they bring another face. They are usually prudent, but they ask me many, many questions,” explains Muñoz in conversation with EL MUNDO before the Fukuoka Swimming World Cup whose races begin this Sunday. How not to ask him questions. At the age of 21, in 2009, he was the world record holder in the 50-meter butterfly swimming alongside Michael Phelps, at 22 and 24 he was European champion and at the age of 28, in 2016, he left it. He had overcome a depression, two suicide attempts, an addiction to alcohol, but he ended up fed up, fed up with the Federation, with the lack of aid, with the gossip.

Have you swum again? The truth is that yes. I went years without doing it. But the clinics have helped me remember who I was, to remember the smell of chlorine. I practice crossfit and now with my boxing mates I sometimes go to the pool. I throw myself to soak, I do 1,000 or 1,200 meters, and I feel like a motherfucker, the truth. I would not compete again, but I maintain the technique, the sensations, the efficiency. What have you done after you retired? I was competing for a year for the National Police, but I had to quit. I started working at Decathlon, I spent five years there, I grew a lot in the company and then I looked for an alternative, because I wanted other things. Now I am responsible for logistics at Etenon Fitness. I work like any mortal and I live with my family in Barcelona. Excuse the intimacy: Are you happy today? What is happiness? It's hard to define, but I would say yes.. In my current life, like when I was swimming, I have great satisfaction and I also have brown. I think people have the feeling that I always suffered swimming, but I was happy. Most of my swimming career I was happy. Now I have internalized what happened to me, I have learned and I try to extrapolate it to my current life. Depression either kills you or you kill it. There are people who commit suicide and people who come out with a lot learned. What did you learn? That I lived it all at once, very young, success, fame, I became very saturated. With the world record the depression began and then I caught it very close. To be honest, I didn't catch it in time, I caught it very close. I treated myself with my psychologist, José Carlos Jaenes, and I have not had any relapse. I'm super proud to have maintained myself ever since. Did that saturation lead you to withdraw years later? No, it had nothing to do with it. I went through a depression, recovered, came back, was European champion in 2010 and then my career sank. I retired for the Federation, because they never trusted me. They always said that he was a storyteller, that he was lazy, that he was a complainer and that he had gone through a depression. Now we are learning about these issues, about mental health, but there is still a long way to go. There was a technical director, Luis Villanueva, who did what he wanted and who is still there. The 2012 Games upset me a lot and I already thought about leaving it, but I endured a little longer. Now that's my little thorn, not having gotten that Olympic medal. Over time, did you know how to deal with fame? Fame came and went with the results. I took it better and I took it worse, I was up and down, but what really exhausted me, over the years, was that fight with the Federation. That lack of trust, that lack of help. That's why I retired so young. A few months after his world record, in early 2010, they banned the use of plastic swimsuits. Did it hurt you? Not especially. I was European champion after the ban. There had never been technology in swimming and, suddenly, there was a boom, we broke 100 world records in a year and they decided to cut their losses.. There was a lot of pressure from the media and also economically, because those records had to be paid. Now, 14 years later, swimsuits are just as technological as they were then.. It is normal, in Formula 1 they have invented the DRS, on motorcycles, the spoilers…. The problem is that swimming came suddenly. Seen in perspective, was it a mistake to drop out and throw yourself into swimming? I don't know what to tell you. I wasn't a good student either, I was always a go-getter. I threw myself into swimming 200% because it is what I knew how to do almost perfectly, what I liked, what gave me money. I saw it as my way of life from a very young age. I have always thought that I should have taken more care of my studies, but if I had done so, perhaps I would not have been a good swimmer. Did you have any financial problems? I did not earn like a footballer, far from it, but if you rub elbows at a certain level, even in swimming, you can live well. I was always a saver and I retired with a certain cushion, I had no problems. They say that now he is going to compete in crossfit. They propose it to me, yes, but I don't see it at all. I am very competitive and if I sign up for something, I would not leave the box, I would always be preparing myself. Crossfit amuses me for the social part, for training in a group. It is completely different from swimming. In fact, there is nothing like swimming. In athletics, you go jogging with people, in cycling, with the group. In swimming, when you put your head under the water, you are very alone. When you're good, you're the best, you break the corduroy. But when you're bad… You can't stop thinking that everything is fucking shit. You try to cheer up and it's impossible. It is a very tough sport mentally.

By three thousandths, in this Hungaroring where he has eight victories, Lewis Hamilton was reunited with the sweet taste of pole position after a year and a half of drought. The scenes of joy in Mercedes, with its leader on the verge of tears, contrasted with the twisted gesture of Red Bull, which in the previous 10 races had only missed one pole position against Ferrari. Things were even worse for Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, eighth and eleventh, both surpassed by the arrival of Alfa Romeo and McLaren.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, third and fourth, confirmed that what was seen a few weeks ago at Silverstone had not been a firework at the Woking team. Even more astonishing was the performance of Guangyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas, fifth and seventh with an Alfa Romeo that had already been showing signs of improvement since the last free session. The progression of both teams has silenced that encouraging spring of Aston Martin. And every week, the gap between Alonso and the podium places gets bigger.

On asphalt at 42ºC, with some slow curves that seemed to favor the AMR23, the Spaniard was never able to compete with the leaders. Neither does Lance Stroll, who will start fourteenth. Some will argue that the new qualifying format, with hard tires in Q1, medium tires in Q2 and soft tires in Q3, disfigures the cars' true potential. Or that the new Pirelli tires favor Alfa Romeo. But the truth is that the decline of Aston Martin is most worrying.

Russell eliminated in Q1

The crudeness of the analysis contrasts with the euphoria of Hamilton, on the verge of hoarseness under the helmet. But at the Hungaroring, despite starting with a deficit of 19 hundredths against Verstappen, he did know how to take advantage of his last bullet.

Friday's free practice had sown the paddock with enigmas and what happened in the morning, with Hamilton ahead of Red Bull, was already a warning. On such a tortuous and broken track, anyone seemed capable of heroics, even from Q1. It was so busy at the front that Norris was startled when one of his laps was erased. Meanwhile, it was already beginning to be perceived that Red Bull's advantage would not be so large at all. And that a slight obstruction could leave even George Russell, author of the 2022 pole position, on the canvas.

No Q3 after 33 races

Fairly fair, Alfa Romeo's provisional lead with Zhou shouldn't scare off favorites in Q2. Verstappen, who had just scored a resounding 1:17.296, found himself in trouble when the lap was crossed out for having exceeded the limits at turn 5. The commissioners seemed to be serious, who also canceled Stroll's time for crossing the white line at turn 12. The next world champion, obviously, had to resort to a new set of yellows to save himself from burning, although without approaching less than two tenths of the lead, in the hands of Norris with his McLaren (1:17.328).

To reach Q3 there were barely 51 thousandths between the seventh (Nico Hulkenberg) and the first eliminated. Unfortunately, Sainz fell to this eleventh place, after a slight error in the last attempt. The sad end to a fantastic run from Madrid, who had reached Q3 in his last 33 races. And a relief for Alonso, who was able to sneak into the top-10 for just two thousandths. The two-time champion could celebrate little else at the Hungaroring.

A victory at Le Markstein, the 11th of his career at the age of 24. [Narration and ratings]

In that sprint in Le Makrstein were the recovered forces, but also the liberation from so much frustration. The Slovenian prevailed without too many problems, there is no one like him with that punch, ahead of Felix Gall and Vingegaard himself, who could hardly oppose. Behind, the Yates brothers, Adam securing third place overall and Simon storming fourth from an injured and suffering Carlos Rodríguez, who reached 50 seconds and finished his first Tour fifth, with the victory in Morzine forever.. Sixth and also a stage winner, another one that deserves applause, a whole Pello Bilbao to the end.

It turned out to be a stage of keeping what was obtained for three weeks before attempting feats, ambitions already as exhausted as energies. A day marked by the last dance of Thibaut Pinot, by the early fall of Carlos Rodríguez and by Pogacar's only attack in Platzerwasel, 5.5 from the top, although without solution of continuity. Once traced by Vingegaard, they played tactically, without conceding a relief to the Dane, this time to the expectation of the Slovenian.

It had been a completely frantic stage start. Nobody wanted to be absent from the last party of the Tour, despite the forces at the limit, a true gymkhana in just over 130 kilometers through the Vosges. At dawn from Belfort, Vingegaard could well be seen in the group of escapees, arousing the suspicions of the rest. Or Giulio Ciccone collecting points for his mountain jersey. He was going to achieve it mathematically in the fourth level, the Col de la Schlucht and he celebrated it like that, with arms raised as if he had won a stage. The last Italian to finish with the red dotted jersey was Franco Pellizotti in 2009, before Chiappucchi in 1992.

Thibaut Pinot also monopolized the spotlight, the last propitious stage in the career of one of the most charismatic cyclists in the peloton, receiving all the deserved tributes in the mountains where he grew up and where he has his farm in Melisey. A guy who carried the weight of a nation on his shoulders, capable of acknowledging that he ranks his popularity above his talent, of pronouncing: “I wish I had less love and more victories.”

But not all were joys. Carlos Rodríguez and Sepp Kuss were involved in a fall at kilometer 33, in a curve of the descent of the Ballon d'Alsace, both soon reinstated but with visible injuries on their bodies and faces. It was going to be too much for the Spaniard, who nevertheless never gave up even though he saw how soon the chances of getting back on the podium vanished, even the other Yates slipped away from him.

The escapees, who never enjoyed a notable advantage, soon found themselves caught up in Pogacar's impetus. Felix Gall took the initiative with the two colossi again testing each other and the Yates brothers finished their work masterfully.

Real Sociedad midfielder David Silva, trained in the Valencia youth academy and who played in his first team for four seasons, has decided to retire from football, after confirming the serious injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Although some complementary medical tests are still pending, the 37-year-old midfielder from the Canary Islands has decided to abandon professional football, as Cadena Ser announced last night and sources close to the footballer have confirmed to EFE.

Real Sociedad reported on Thursday that Silva suffers from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee, a serious ailment that could keep him off the pitch all season.

The player withdrew from training on Wednesday with knee discomfort and, in the imaging tests carried out, the ligament injury was detected.

At 37 years old, the injury will force Silva to hang up his boots when he was still at an excellent competitive level at Real Sociedad.

The Canarian midfielder arrived in San Sebastián on August 17, 2020 after finishing his successful career at Manchester City. He signed for two years for Real, with the possibility of extending his contract for one more season.

In that third season he was fundamental in Real Sociedad's qualification for the Champions League, which encouraged the Canarian footballer to renew for one more campaign with Real Sociedad. However, the injury will deprive him of playing that fourth season.

Born in Arguineguin (Gran Canaria) in 1986, David Josué Jiménez Siva started at San Fernando de Maspalomas, but at the age of 14 he moved to the Valencia youth academy.

In the 2003-2004 season he played for Valencia Mestalla in Segunda B and in the 2004-2005 academic year he played on loan for Eibar and later for Celta, this time in the First Division, to return to Valencia in 2006.

In the summer of 2010, while he was playing and winning the World Cup in South Africa, his move to Manchester City was confirmed, the club where he stayed for a decade.

Back to Spain

At the end of his time in Manchester, at the age of 34, Silva looked for a destination in which to continue competing at the highest level and enjoying football, and at that moment he came across Imanol Alguacil's attractive Real Sociedad.

With Real he won a Copa del Rey and was key in the European qualification in the three seasons he has played with txuri urdin.

With the Spanish team, Silva is part of the chosen group of players who have won a World Cup and two European Championships.

Faith Kipyegon, for the world and the mile, and Mohamed Katir, for Europe and the 5,000 meters graced the Monaco rally, the ninth stop of the Diamond League. Kipyegon set another jewel in the crown that symbolically encircles his temples and certifies his title of best middle-distance runner of all time. There is no other way to define who, in June, broke the world records of 1,500 and 5,000, and, on this July 21, shattered the one for the mile.

He did not leave behind Sifan Hassan's 4:12.33: he lost sight of them. He did not send them to the attic: he relegated them to the insignificance of oblivion. The Kenyan, Olympic and world champion, performed 4:07.64. The reduction is of such a caliber that it forces you to read the numbers several times to verify that it is not an error and to assume its veracity.

At this point in athletics, all records contain an initial temptation of disbelief. But some more than others. This is one of those that produce a certain visual disorder because it did not seem possible that a woman could go down from, let's say, to establish a psychological border, 4:10.00 in the mile, a non-Olympic distance, but of enormous prestige. Well, Kipyegon dropped infinitely lower to, let's repeat for the sake of sinking in, perform 4:07.64.

Although he left his rivals half a straight behind?, the race as a whole was of such strength that 12 of the 13 participants broke their personal record. Among them Ester Guerrero, tenth, with 4:22.28.

Mohamed Katir did not win a dizzying 5,000 in which nine men fell below 13 minutes and saw the victory of the Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet with 12:42.58. But, fourth, he broke Jakob Ingebrigtsen's European record. Nothing less. The Norwegian's 12:48.45 was vastly bettered by Katir's 12:45.01, who naturally also broke his own national lead of 12:50.79. To complete the Spanish party, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, eighth, completed a personal best of 12:55.47.