Coach Jorge Vilda (C), who was fired Tuesday, led Spain to a Women’s World Cup final win over England on Aug. 20 in Sydney. Photo by Bianca De Marchi/EPA-EFE
Sept. 5 (UPI) — Spain has made the decision to terminate the contract of women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda on Tuesday. This action comes after Vilda led the team to triumph in this year’s World Cup, a victory that was mired in controversy, resulting in player boycotts and division within the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
The federation has stated that this decision stands as one of the initial renovation measures announced by interim president Pedro Rocha, who has taken over during Luis Rubiales’ hiatus.
Last week, FIFA handed Rubiales a three-month suspension for his unwanted kiss to midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup trophy presentation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Rocha issued an apology and strongly condemned Rubiales’ “completely unacceptable behavior.”
“The damage caused to Spanish football, Spanish sport, Spanish society, and to the principles and values of soccer and sport has been immeasurable,” Rocha said.
“The [federation] wants to express, to society as a whole and to the entire football community, its deepest regret for the incident that has tarnished our team, our football, and our society.”
The federation, which initially threatened legal action against Hermoso, accusing her of lying about the incident, has since removed those statements from its website. The federation is now cooperating with the investigations into Rubiales, including one launched by the Spanish Prosecutors Office.
The fallout from Rubiales’ World Cup kiss and his refusal to step down despite widespread criticism led to numerous players announcing they would not play for the national team if the management structure remained unchanged.
Last week, regional presidents of the Royal Spanish Football Federation called for Rubiales’ immediate resignation. In addition, four members of the senior team’s coaching staff resigned last month.
Vilda himself faced controversy last September when 15 players wrote a letter to the federation criticizing his coaching style and refusing to play for the national team as long as he remained coach.
Three players from the group, namely Aitana Bonmati, Mariona Caldentey, and Ona Batlle, were part of the 2023 World Cup team.
“We acknowledge Vilda’s exceptional personal and professional conduct, which has played a key role in the remarkable growth of women’s football in Spain,” stated the federation on Tuesday. “Throughout his tenure, Vilda has been a staunch advocate for the values of respect and fair play in football.”
The federation also expressed its gratitude to Vilda for his dedication and professionalism.
“Thanks to the implementation of a recognized game model and methodology that has been the driving force behind the development of all women’s categories in the national team, the [federation] has inherited an extraordinary sporting legacy,” added the federation.
Currently the world’s second-ranked team, Spain is scheduled to play against Sweden in a UEFA Nations League match on September 22 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
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