![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/skysports-vilda-spain-world-cup_6266894-696x392.jpg\" "\\"skysports-vilda-spain-world-cup_6266894\\"\/")
<\/div>\nJorge Vilda, Spain\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup-winning head coach, has been sacked amid the ongoing Luis Rubiales scandal.<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s win was overshadowed by the country\u2019s football federation president Rubiales kissing forward Jenni Hermoso, which she said was not consensual.<\/p>\n
Most of Vilda\u2019s coaching staff resigned and 81 players refused to play for Spain in the aftermath.<\/p>\n
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Rubiales has refused to resign but has been provisionally suspended by Fifa, football\u2019s world governing body.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Spanish federation the RFEF did not give a specific reason for Vilda\u2019s dismissal, saying he had been \u201ca promoter of the values \u200b\u200bof respect and sportsmanship in football\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, the RFEF has been exploring whether it could sack 42-year-old Vilda \u2013 considered a close ally of Rubiales \u2013 since last week.<\/p>\n
He was spotted applauding Rubiales at the RFEF\u2019s extraordinary general assembly earlier in August \u2013 when Rubiales repeatedly insisted he would not resign and said he would offer Vilda a new deal \u2013 though he has since criticised his behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RFEF appreciates [Vilda\u2019s] work at the head of the national team and in his functions as the head of sports for the women\u2019s teams, as well as the successes achieved during his time crowned with the recent achievement of the World Cup,\u201d said the RFEF.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, being a key piece in the notable growth of women\u2019s football in Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vilda, who had been in charge of the national team since 2015, survived a player \u2018revolt\u2019 in September 2022, when the RFEF released a statement revealing 15 players had submitted identical emails saying they would not play for Vilda unless \u201csignificant\u201d concerns over their \u201cemotional state\u201d and \u201chealth\u201d were addressed.<\/p>\n
\u2018Las 15\u2019 \u2013 as the players became known \u2013 denied claims they had asked for Vilda, who has always maintained the support of Rubiales, to be sacked, but tension followed amid reports of concerns over training methods and inadequate game preparation.<\/p>\n
Of those 15, just three ended their exile and were back in the squad as\u00a0Spain beat England in the World Cup final in Sydney last month.<\/p>\n
Vilda oversaw 108 matches as Spain coach, winning 75, and reached the European Championship quarter-finals in 2017 and 2022.<\/p>\n
The World Cup winners are currently second in the Fifa women\u2019s world rankings.<\/p>\n
The RFEF\u2019s statement added: \u201cThe RFEF would like to express its gratitude to Jorge Vilda for the services provided, for his professionalism and dedication during all these years, wishing him the best successes in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RFEF is left with an extraordinary sporting legacy thanks to the implementation of a recognised game model and a methodology that has been an engine of growth for all the women\u2019s categories of the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n
RFEF offers \u2018sincere apologies\u2019 for Rubiales\u2019 behaviour<\/strong><\/p>\n Earlier on Tuesday, Pedro Rocha, the RFEF\u2019s acting president, apologised to the \u201cwhole of the football world\u201d for the \u201ctotally unacceptable behaviour\u201d of Rubiales.<\/p>\n Rocha said he plans to \u201cgive back the spotlight\u201d to the women\u2019s team after their World Cup victory was overshadowed.<\/p>\n A lengthy statement said: \u201cThe Royal Spanish Football Federation, through its president, Mr. Pedro Rocha, considers it is essential to present the most sincere apologies to the football institutions, the players, especially the players of the Spanish National Football Team and the English National Football Team, stakeholders involved in football and the fans around the world for the totally unacceptable behaviour of its highest institutional representative during the final of the Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup 2023 and in the moments that followed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values \u200b\u200bof football and sport as a whole have been enormous.<\/p>\n \u201cThe RFEF wants to transmit to the whole of society and to the whole of the football world its utmost regret for what happened that has tarnished our team, our football and our society.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must apologise most sincerely and make a firm and absolute commitment that events like these can never happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s national sports tribunal (TAD) has opened a misconduct case against Rubiales.<\/p>\n On Monday,\u00a0Spain\u2019s men\u2019s players condemned\u00a0his \u201cunacceptable behaviour\u201d, expressing their \u201cregret and solidarity with the players whose success has been tarnished\u201d.<\/p>\n After insisting he would not resign in a speech days after the World Cup final, Rubiales said the kiss with Hermoso was consensual, while the RFEF said it would take legal action over her \u201clies\u201d.<\/p>\n Rocha said he \u201cregretted\u201d the incident had \u201cnegatively impacted what should have been a continuous celebration of football\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe performance of Mr. Rubiales both at that moment and in the hours that followed are not acceptable under any circumstances and for this reason the RFEF immediately withdrew from its website all those inappropriate and meaningless communications that did not value what was achieved by the national team and did not take into account the statements by the player about these events.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be clear, this position was that of Mr. Rubiales, not that of the RFEF. We feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and additional distress this has caused.\u201d<\/p>\n Rocha added: \u201cI want to congratulate our team once again for its historic triumph, recognising the impact and legacy that this victory will have on the future of Spanish football. We are convinced that their spirit has inspired millions of people of all ages, and we cannot be prouder of the way they have behaved, both inside and off the field of play.<\/p>\n \u201cIn due time, I intend to give them back the spotlight and celebrate their achievements as they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n