Spain’s beleaguered football federation has sacked the coach of its national women’s team, Jorge Vilda, less than three weeks after he oversaw its World Cup triumph in Australia.
Key points:
- Last year, 15 players said they wouldn’t play for Vilda unless “significant” concerns were addressed
- Spain beat England 1-0 to win the World Cup final
- Vilda had managed the country’s women’s team since 2015
In a statement, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) did not give a reason for its decision.
Last year, 15 players announced they would no longer represent the national team and Vilda unless “significant” concerns were addressed.
While three of them made themselves available for the World Cup, the majority remained on the sidelines.
Vilda had publicly supported RFEF president Luis Rubiales, who has been widely criticised since agressively kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after Spain became world champions.
In its statement, the RFEF thanked Vilda for his service and said he “had been a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in football”.
He had managed the national women’s team since 2015.
The sacking is the latest twist in Spain’s tumultuous World Cup campaign.
Rubiales’s behaviour during the post-match presentations after Spain’s 1-0 victory over England at Stadium Australia have made international headlines and sparked heated debate in the football-mad country.
While he claims the kiss was consensual, Hermoso says that’s not true.
The RFEF initially backed its president but later demanded he resign — something he is yet to do more than a week later.
The sport’s global governing body, FIFA, has suspended him from all football-related activity.
Spain’s government is trying to oust Rubiales — who says he is the victim of a smear campaign — using official channels.
Vilda applauded when Rubiales gave a speech in Madrid late last month, saying he would not resign.
However, the next day Vilda issued a statement condemning the president’s actions as “unacceptable”.
The sport was plunged further into chaos when 11 coaching and back-room staff from the women’s program quit in protest against Rubiales.
However, Vilda remained in his role, until now.
In its statement, the RFEF thanked the coach for his “professionalism and dedication”, and said the decision to sack him was “one of the first renewal measures” the federation was taking.