The Spanish football federation has fired women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda less than three weeks after his team won the Women’s World Cup title
The Spanish football federation fired women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda on Tuesday, less than three weeks after his team won the Women’s World Cup title and amid the controversy involving suspended federation president Luis Rubiales.
The coach was among those who applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign despite facing widespread criticism for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the title celebrations in Sydney last month.
Montse Tomé was appointed as Vilda’s replacement, making her the first woman to hold the job. She had been one of Vilda’s assistant coaches since 2018.
Rubiales, who also grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture after the final, has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and is facing a Spanish government case against him for the conduct that prompted a storm of criticism and led to widespread calls for his resignation.
Vilda later said Rubiales’ behaviour was improper. Men’s coach Luis de la Fuente also applauded Rubiales’ diatribe against what he called “false feminists,” and apologised on Friday for having made what he described an “inexcusable human error.”
The captains of Spain’s men’s national team on Monday condemned Rubiales’ “unacceptable behaviour” in a show of support for the Women’s World Cup-winning team.