Spain’s Women’s Soccer Team Coach Has Been Fired After Its President Forcibly Kissed A Player
The federation did not give a specific reason for firing Jorge Vilda but said it was one of its first “renewal measures”.
Spain’s women’s soccer team coach has been fired following backlash to the country’s football federation president forcibly kissing a woman player without consent.
The Spanish football federation fired Jorge Vilda on Tuesday Sep. 5, as it faces mounting pressure for its president, Luis Rubiales, to resign.
Rubiales caused a public uproar when he kissed Spanish woman player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without her consent after the team’s World Cup win in August.
The federation did not give a specific reason for firing Vilda but said it was one of its first “renewal measures”.
Vilda was seen applauding when Rubiales repeatedly insisted he would not resign during a press conference following the kiss.
In September 2022, 15 players sent letters to the federation stating that they would be unavailable for the World Cup selection unless the current management changes.
The players became known as “the 15” and included players from Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad, Club América Femenil, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Although they did not directly demand Vilda’s resignation, they had previously complained about his management and controling behavior.
The players wrote that the “situation” had a negative impact on their mental and physical health.
In response, the federation said it would not “accept any type of pressure when it comes to adopting sports-related measures”, saying the players’ “scheme” did not adhere to “football and sport values” and was “toxic”.
While refusing to institute change, it also banned players from returning unless they “admit their errors and apologize”.
At the time, Spanish player and two time Ballon d’Or award winner, Alexia Putellas, called out the federation for portraying their demands as a “whim” and “blackmail”.
“We will not tolerate the infantilizing tone in which the [federation] concludes its statement,” Putellas said on Twitter last year.
Now, changes are being made nearly a year after their demands were dismissed.
Following Rubiales non-consensual kiss, at least 80 players, including all 23 members of Spain’s Women’s World Cup team, have said that they “will not return to a national team call-up if the current leaders continue.”
The federation has named former football player and Vilda’s assistant, Montse Tomé, as the new team’s coach.
Tomé will become the the first woman to hold the position and will start in September.
Meanwhile, Hermoso has filed a formal complaint against Rubiales, and authorities have launched an investigation into his actions.
