Spain Sack World Cup Winning Coach Vilda Amid Kissing Scandal

Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has sacked Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning coach, Jorge Vilda, as the fallout from Luis Rubiales kissing scandal,

With Rubiales suspended as Spanish FA president for 90 days by FIFA after his unsolicited kiss on forward Jenni Hermoso, the committee of regional presidents in charge of the RFEF, led by Pedro Rocha, informed Vilda of the decision to fire him.

Rocha is set to meet with Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) president Victor Francos later Tuesday.

Vilda was informed of the decision Tuesday, shortly after the RFEF issued a statement apologising for “totally unacceptable behavior” by Rubiales and saying it is cooperating with disciplinary action against him.

Later Tuesday, the RFEF named Montse Tomé as his replacement. She is the first woman to coach the Spain women’s team in its history and had been Vilda’s assistant coach since 2018.

“The RFEF wants to convey to the whole of society and to the whole of world football its deepest regret for what has happened, which has tarnished our national team, our football and our society,” the statement reads. “The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and to the values of football and sport as a whole has been enormous.”

The RFEF thanked Vilda in their statement Tuesday and said: “The coach has been key to the notable growth in women’s football and left Spain as World Champion and second in FIFA ranking.”

The graphic the RFEF posted on social media said: “Gracias Jorge.”
The RFEF also promised a “profound and immediate restructuring” of the organisation after Rubiales’ conduct.

That conduct led all 23 members of Spain’s victorious World Cup squad to co-sign a statement last month – joined by 58 other current and former players – saying they would not return to play for the national team again “if the current management continues.”

Joan Soteras, the president of the Catalan Football Federation and a member of the RFEF committee of regional presidents, foreshadowed the sacking last week.

“There have to be structural changes in women’s football,” he said. “One of those could be [removing] Vilda. He was at the centre of the mess with the national team [last September]. If it was up to me, I would [dismiss him]. A change would be the most convenient thing for the good of women’s football.”