Jorge Vilda, Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning coach, has been fired over the ongoing Luis Rubiales scandal.
The fact that Spain’s football federation president Rubiales kissed forward Jenni Hermoso, which she said was not consensual, overshadowed the victory.
Following the resignation of the majority of Vilda’s coaching staff, 81 players decided not to represent Spain.
Despite Rubiales’ refusal to resign, Fifa, the world governing body of football, has temporarily suspended him.
READ MORE: Luis Rubiales: FIFA Set To Deal With The Spanish Football Federation President
The RFEF, the Spanish football association, could not provide a particular explanation for Vilda’s dismissal, only that he had “promoted the values of respect and sportsmanship in football.”
However, since last week, the RFEF has been considering whether it could fire 42-year-old Vilda, who is seen as a close friend of Rubiales.
Although he has since criticized his behavior, he was seen cheering Rubiales during the RFEF’s extraordinary general meeting earlier in August, when Rubiales repeatedly vowed he would not resign and said he would offer Vilda a new contract.
“The RFEF appreciates [Vilda’s] work at the head of the national team and in his functions as the head of sports for the women’s teams, as well as the successes achieved during his time crowned with the recent achievement of the World Cup,” stated the RFEF.
“We value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, being a key piece in the notable growth of women’s football in Spain.”
When the RFEF released a statement in September 2022 revealing 15 players had sent identical emails stating they would not play for Vilda unless “significant” concerns over their “emotional state” and “health” were addressed, Vilda, who had been in charge of the national team since 2015, managed to survive a player “revolt.”
Jorge Vilda led Spain to the quarterfinals of the European Championship in 2017 and 2022 while overseeing 108 games, winning 75 of them.
In the Fifa women’s global rankings, the global Cup champions are now ranked second.