‘Unfair treatment’ furore: Gibraltar women’s football team head coach ‘forced one player to give up other sports and still didn’t pick her’ – CSN News

THE Gibraltar Football Association is in the spotlight once again after another player pulled out of the women’s team amid accusations of ‘unfair treatment’ and a ‘divided dressing room.’

Striker Reighann Olivero, 20, accused women’s coach Scott Wiseman of subjecting her to ‘unfair treatment and blatant double standards’ in her withdrawal letter that she published to social media.

Olivero, according to The Olive Press, felt that she was forced to give up other sports or hobbies like hockey to make the women’s squad while other players weren’t.

Sources close to the situation told this newspaper that even though she had done so, she was still removed from the women’s team.

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Those same sources claim that the GFA refused to meet the family of the player and ignored her complaints after being made aware of them.

Wiseman, Olivero’s son, replaced his father as the coach of the women’s national team in 2023.

An open letter posted to team captain Shania Robba’s facebook page on the same day, signed by all but one of the 32 players in the women’s squad, called Olivero a ‘bitter ex-player’.

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The letter stated that “false accusations of bullying should not be confused” with the nature of sports and the harsh reality of being left out or not selected.

According to a source who spoke with the Olive Press, “When you don’t invest money in women’s soccer, the players’ fathers coach the team and that can then lead to problems.”

When Scott Wiseman became the manager, there was division in his dressing room.

Wiseman took over as interim coach when Julio Ribas, the men’s head coach, abruptly resigned earlier this month. 

Wiseman chose not to name Reighann Olivero’s brother Jayce, who was a regular for Ribas, in Gibraltar’s men’s match against Montenegro. Montenegro defeated Gibraltar 3-1.

It will now be interesting to see whether midfielder Tiffany Viagas makes the next squad. She was one of the few players who didn’t sign the open letter in support of Wiseman. 

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Captain Shania Robba has a strong connection to GFA’s General Secretary Ivan Robba. She is also a relative of Gary Robba (Operations Officer) and Charles Robba (former Finance Director).

Kyrelle Reagliatte, formerly the Gibraltar women’s goalkeeper, is also a player who has previously pulled out of a squad.

Others have suggested that the 31 players who did put their name to the letter posted to Shania Robba’s Facebook page were ‘coerced’ and they did it because they ‘all fear reprisals.’

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The GFA has strongly encouraged ‘any footballer experiencing mental health challenges or personal struggles to make use of its confidential, anonymous, and free Club Assistance Programme.’

Olivero Family declined to comment on this article.

Olive Press contacted the GFA but received no response.