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Rabat – In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding the kiss incident involving the former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Luis Rubiales, the RFEF announced today its decision to part ways with Jorge Vilda, the head coach of the Spanish Women’s team.
In an official statement, the RFEF expressed its appreciation for Vilda’s contributions since he assumed the position in 2015, citing his key role in the achievements of the Spanish team.
This includes Spain’s victory at the 2023 Women’s World Cup last month, a win that was marred by the incident involving Rubiales, who allegedly nonconsensually kissed one of the players on the lips while celebrating the title.
The controversial kiss has ignited a firestorm of condemnation and discussions about appropriate conduct and gender dynamics in sports.
The FMRF did not provide a reason for Vilda’s suspension and did not connect it to the World Cup incident or to Rubiales, whom they suspended 10 days ago.
Instead, the statement highlighted the coach’s “impeccable personal and sporting conduct,” emphasizing his commitment to promoting respect and sportsmanship in women’s football in Spain.
“When he took over as the head coach of the national team in 2015, the team was far from the elite, and now it holds the second position in the FIFA rankings,” added the federation.
In a separate statement issued by interim President Pedro Rocha today, RFEF publicly acknowledged and apologized for the “inappropriate conduct” exhibited by Rubiales at the global tournament.
The three-page-long statement highlighted the extensive damage that Rubiales’ actions had inflicted not only on Spanish football but also on the broader sporting community and society at large.
