Jorge Vilda has been fired as the coach of Spain’s world-champion women’s soccer team following the controversy surrounding the head of the Spanish soccer federation kissing a player after the team’s World Cup win.
Vilda has since responded to the outrage, calling it “real nonsense.”
In a statement released Tuesday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation called Vilda a “key to the remarkable growth” of women’s soccer in the nation. The team won its first World Cup win this year, CBS News reported.
“We value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, being a key player in the remarkable growth of women’s football in Spain. During his long period, Vilda has been a promoter of the values of respect and fair play in football,” the organization said. “…The RFEF would like to express its gratitude to Jorge Vilda for the services he has provided, for his professionalism and dedication during all these years, wishing him the best of success in the future.”
Luis Rubiales, the now-suspended federation president, grabbed player Jenni Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips after the win. And now prosecutors in Spain’s top criminal court said it could be considered sexual assault, as the kiss was without Hermoso’s consent.
“I didn’t like it, but what can I do?” Hermoso said in a post on Instagram.
Rubiales was also seen grabbing his crotch while cheering the team on as he stood next to teenage Spanish Princess Infanta Sofía.
Vilda, who had been the women’s national team’s coach since 2015, spoke with Spanish sports outlet La Marca following the kiss and said that the incident was “real nonsense.”
“[It] generated an unprecedented situation, tarnishing a well-deserved victory for our players and our country,” he said. “There is no doubt that it is unacceptable and does not reflect at all the principles and values that I defend in my life, in sport in general and in football in particular.”
Vilda and dozens of other men clapped when Rubiales responded to the controversy in a speech at an emergency meeting for the federation in which he repeatedly said, “I will not resign.”
“A consensual ‘peck’ is enough to get me out of here?” he said. “I will fight until the end.”
Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and is facing a Spanish government case against him for the incident.
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