In its dismissal of coach Jorge Vilda, Spain’s soccer federation did not mention his connection to now-suspended president Luis Rubiales or his unpopularity among the Women’s World Cup-winning team.
Spain’s soccer federation has dismissed its women’s national team coach, Jorge Vilda, amid the continuing fallout over the actions of federation president Luis Rubiales at the Women’s World Cup final — which included forcibly kissing star forward Jenni Hermoso and making a lewd crotch-grabbing gesture.
The federation’s announcement on Tuesday thanked Vilda and said he « has been key to the remarkable growth of women’s football and leaves Spain as world champion and second in the FIFA ranking. »
The statement by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, known as the RFEF, doesn’t mention that Vilda’s job had hung in the balance due to his connection to Rubiales and the global condemnation he has received following Spain’s victory at the tournament last month.
The members of Spain’s World Cup-winning team and dozens of other Spanish players had announced on August 25 that they would refuse to play for Spain while « the current leaders » continue. Many understood that to mean that the players were demanding the removal of both Rubiales and Vilda.
Last year, many of the country’s top players refused to play under Vilda, who they said was too controlling.
