Spain SACK their World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda, just 11 days after disgraced Luis Rubiales offered him a new contract on stage, as FA apologise to the ‘world of football’ for president’s kiss-gate antics
- Spain have sacked coach Jorge Vilda despite masterminding World Cup triumph
- Vilda has proved an unpopular head coach despite Spain’s World Cup success
- His sacking is said to be a ‘symbol’ of change after Luis Rubiales’ kiss scandal
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off
Spain women’s boss Jorge Vilda has been sacked as manager as part of changes to the country’s set up in the wake of Luis Rubiales’ ‘kiss-gate’ scandal.
Vilda’s position has been controversial despite the coach leading Spain to a 1-0 win over England in the Women’s World Cup final last month.
The Spanish FA were urged to dismiss Vilda by their regional presidents’ committee last week, with the organisation facing mounting pressure over the controversy surrounding their president Luis Rubiales.
And Vilda has now been dismissed by Spain after a meeting with acting Spain FA president Pedro Rocha.
Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and facing increasing pressure to resign after he kissed Jennifer Hermoso following the Women’s World Cup final.
Marca reported earlier on Tuesday that Rocha would swing the axe on Vilda, who had been in the role since 2015 but divided the squad over his behaviour and coaching methods.
Spain’s women’s national team head coach Jorge Vilda (L) has been sacked after a meeting with acting Spanish FA president Pedro Rocha
Vilda’s departure comes two weeks after Spain’s triumph at the Women’s World Cup
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In September 2022, 15 Spain players wrote a letter to the Spanish FA refusing to play unless Vilda resigned, arguing that his reign was affecting their ’emotional state’ and amid talk of unprofessionalism.
Rubiales chose to back Vilda, who opted to select just three of the 15 players in his squad for the World Cup.
The protest against Vilda came amid reported he had banned players from locking their hotel rooms, carried out room checks, and went through their bags like ‘children’.
Vilda also faced criticism for applauding Rubiales when the embattled Spanish FA chief had made a defiant speech insisting he would not resign, although the coach has since hit out at his conduct.
It has been claimed the decision to sack Vilda is be a ‘symbol’ of the changes promised by the Spanish FA in response to the Rubiales scandal.
Vilda’s sacking is expected to be viewed as a ‘symbol’ of changes planned at the Spanish FA amid the ongoing controversy surrounding their president Luis Rubiales, pictured
Rubiales (right), a key ally of Vilda, has faced calls to resign as Spanish FA chief after he kissed Jennifer Hermoso (left) on the lips during the Women’s World Cup final ceremony
Vilda, second right, hit out at Rubiales conduct after the World Cup final but was criticised for applauding the embattled Spanish FA chief during a speech where he vowed not to resign
This follows a call from the regional presidents’ committee for the organisation to implement ‘deep and imminent organic restructuring in strategic positions of the federation’.
Spanish football was rocked after Rubiales sparked outrage when he kissed Hermoso on the mouth as she stepped up to receive her medal following Spain’s 1-0 win in the Women’s World Cup final.
Footage also emerged that showed Rubiales grabbing his crotch while standing near Queen Letizia of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter Princess Infanta Sofia – which he has since apologised for.
Hermoso has since insisted the kiss was not consensual, and dozens of Spanish players have gone on strike, with almost all of the coaching staff resigning in protest.
Rubiales, however, has refused to resign, with an investigation into sexual abuse underway.
He has claimed he is the ‘victim of a political and media lynching’ who is actually ‘advancing feminism’ as he continues to fight attempts to suspend him.
FIFA has already handed Rubiales a 90-day ban and Mail Sport revealed the governing body is pushing for a 15-year ban from all football.
In Spain, the Sports Administrative Tribunal (TAD) has opened a case against the 46-year-old, but it is for ‘serious’, rather than ‘very serious’ misconduct.
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