Spanish football federation evaluating options regarding coach Jorge Vilda's position

Posted : 29 August 2023

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is currently considering various courses of action concerning the potential dismissal of Jorge Vilda, the head coach who guided the Women's National Team to victory in the Women's World Cup.

Vilda has continued to hold his position despite the resignation of a majority of his coaching staff in protest against the federation president, Luis Rubiales. The protests stemmed from Rubiales' refusal to step down following an incident where he kissed team member Jenni Hermoso after their World Cup triumph on August 20th.

Eighty-one players from the Spanish squad, including all 23 members of the World Cup-winning team, have pledged not to participate in national team activities as long as Rubiales remains in his position.

Although Vilda initially showed support for Rubiales by applauding him during an extraordinary general assembly of the RFEF, he has since criticized Rubiales' behavior.

In light of these combined circumstances, the RFEF is exploring the possibility of terminating Vilda's contract.

An extraordinary meeting was convened on Monday by federation regional leaders, led by interim president Pedro Rocha. During this meeting, there was a call for the federation to undergo a restructuring process, aiming to initiate a new chapter.

However, it's worth noting that a portion of local football association leaders are hesitant to push for Rubiales' removal, opting instead to issue a statement urging him to resign. Rubiales has thus far resisted this call for resignation.

Back in September 2022, Rubiales stood by Vilda when 15 national-team players withdrew from the squad, citing the coach's management as detrimental to their emotional well-being and health. Only three of these players eventually rejoined the squad, which ultimately triumphed over England in the final in Sydney.

The incident that unfolded after the final match has led to significant criticism of Rubiales, especially after Hermoso, aged 33, stated that the kiss on her lips was not consensual. Spanish prosecutors have initiated a preliminary investigation into whether this incident could be classified as a crime of sexual assault. Furthermore, FIFA, the global governing body of football, suspended Rubiales on Saturday in response to the situation.

Spanish football federation evaluating options regarding coach Jorge Vilda's position

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