Jorge Vilda Condemns Sack As Spain Women's Coach

Jorge Vilda, the former coach of Spain's women's national soccer team, has expressed his dismay at his abrupt dismissal just 16 days after La Roja's World Cup victory, asserting that the decision was unjust. The 42-year-old coach was relieved of his duties by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) in the aftermath of the Luis Rubiales scandal. The RFEF president, Luis Rubiales, faced FIFA suspension following an incident during which he kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony at the World Cup in Sydney on August 20. The Spanish government is also pursuing additional sanctions related to the incident. Jenni Hermoso claimed that the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales maintains that it was. When Rubiales declined to step down from his position, over 80 players from the women's national team initiated a strike, demanding the removal of the RFEF leadership. Speaking to Cadena Ser radio station, Jorge Vilda revealed, "The explanation (for my dismissal) was 'structural changes.' After everything that has been achieved, giving absolutely everything ... I have a clear conscience. I gave 100 percent, and I don't understand it; I don't think my sacking was deserved." Before the World Cup, 15 players had initially refused to play for the national team due to disagreements with Vilda and the federation. However, many of them eventually returned, and three were called up for the tournament. Following the World Cup, Rubiales had pledged to extend Vilda's contract by four years and provide him with a substantial salary increase. Vilda commented, "I'm feeling as good as you can after becoming world champions 16 days ago, 10 days ago having your contract renewed with a higher salary and then today being sacked, I think unjustly." Vilda had faced criticism for applauding Rubiales' controversial speech in which the federation president criticized "false feminism" and refused to resign. "I will never applaud anything macho," Vilda emphasized. "I didn't know where that meeting was going; we thought we were going to see a resignation. The president was evaluating your work and announcing your renewal – that I applauded." While Vilda admitted that he hadn't spoken to Jenni Hermoso recently, he acknowledged her distress following the incident. "I've known Jenni for 16 years," Vilda stated. "I know she's having a hard time, I know her family is having a hard time, and I know she's waiting for all this to be over." Jorge Vilda had taken over as the coach of the Spanish women's national team in 2015, following years of coaching younger age groups within the RFEF. However, players had previously expressed concerns about his training methods, tactics, and team dynamics. Despite the criticisms, Rubiales and the federation had stood by Vilda, and he had called up several younger players to compensate for the absence of 15 key players in the lead-up to the World Cup.