Dismissed Spain coach Vilda expresses his belief that his termination was unjust
Jorge Vilda, the ousted coach of Spain's women's team, asserts that he holds a clear conscience and considers his firing, which occurred 16 days after La Roja's World Cup victory, to be unfair.
Jorge Vilda, the former coach of Spain's women's team, believes that his dismissal, which occurred 16 days after La Roja's World Cup victory, was unjust. The 42-year-old was removed from his post by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in the wake of the Luis Rubiales scandal.
RFEF President Rubiales was suspended by FIFA after he kissed Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony in Sydney on August 20, with the Spanish government seeking further sanctions. Hermoso claimed the kiss was non-consensual, while Rubiales maintained it was.
Over 80 players from the women's side went on strike until the RFEF leadership was removed, as Rubiales refused to resign.
"The explanation (for the sacking) was 'structural changes,'" Vilda told radio station Cadena Ser. "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 refused to play for the national team due to disagreements with Vilda and the federation, though many relented, and three were called up for the tournament. Rubiales had previously pledged to extend Vilda's contract by four years and grant him a significant pay raise.
"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," said Vilda.
Vilda was criticized for applauding Rubiales' controversial speech in which he railed against "false feminism" and refused to resign.
"I will never applaud anything macho," Vilda added. "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."
Vilda acknowledged that he had not spoken to Hermoso recently but knew she was suffering after the incident. "I've known Jenni for 16 years," he said. "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."
Vilda took over the Spanish women's national team in 2015 after coaching younger age groups within the RFEF. Players had complained about his training methods, tactics, and other issues around the team. Despite the complaints, Rubiales and the federation supported Vilda, who called up several younger players to fill in for the 15 missing stars before the World Cup.
Montserrat Tome, Vilda's former assistant, has been appointed as the new coach, marking the first time a woman has led the team. Dani Carvajal, a defender for the Spanish men's team, refrained from commenting on Vilda's dismissal and Rubiales' incident during a news conference, stating that such decisions were made internally.
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