Jenni Hermoso Luis Rubiales Jorge Vilda Spain soccer Sport FIFA Women's World Cup Jenni Hermoso Luis Rubiales Jorge Vilda Spain

Jorge Vilda felt his dismissal at Spain boss was not deserved

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Jorge Vilda feels it was "unfair" for him to be sacked as Spain's Women coach after winning the World Cup in the fallout from the scandal involving the Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales.Vilda was the only member of the women's national team coaching set-up not to resign in protest at the behaviour of Rubiales at the end of the World Cup final, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) confirmed his dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.The former head coach was seen applauding Rubiales at an emergency RFEF general assembly when he announced on 25 August that he would not resign over his actions in Sydney.During the presentation ceremony Rubiales had kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips - something she says she did not consent to - and he grabbed his crotch in the VIP area celebrating the win, stood just metres from Spain's Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter.Rubiales was suspended by FIFA the following day, pending an investigation into his conduct.Concerns over Vilda's coaching methods and regime were reported to have been a key factor in 15 Spain players refusing to play for the national team last year.The federation, under Rubiales' leadership, refused to budge in response to the players' complaints, with a statement saying those involved would only be able to return to the national team "if they accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness".The RFEF made no reference to any discontent among the players in announcing Vilda's exit, instead referring to his "professionalism and dedication during all these years".In an interview with Spanish radio network Cadena SER following his dismissal, Vilda defended his record with the team."In sporting terms, I am going to accept all the criticisms, but on a

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BARCELONA: Sacked Spain women's coach Jorge Vilda says he has a clear conscience and his dismissal 16 days after La Roja's World Cup triumph was unjust.
MADRID: Spain's women's team coach Jorge Vilda has been sacked, the football federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday (Sep 5), 10 days after FIFA suspended RFEF's president for kissing team player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in celebration of Spain's World Cup victory.
MADRID: Spain’s women’s team coach Jorge Vilda has been sacked, the football federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday, 10 days after FIFA suspended RFEF’s president for kissing team player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth in celebration of Spain’s World Cup victory.
GENEVA: Spain return to national-team soccer this week amid turmoil since the men’s and women’s teams won international titles in the last games they played. The first two days of Spanish men’s preparation for a European Championship qualifying game Friday in Georgia started with captain Álvaro Morata reading a statement of support to the Women’s World Cup-winning players and denouncing “unacceptable behavior” by now-suspended federation boss Luis Rubiales. Off-field distractions continued Tuesday: an apology to world soccer for Rubiales’ conduct at and since the women’s final in Australia by his interim replacement Pedro Rocha, and firing beleaguered women’s team coach Jorge Vilda. Men’s team coach Luis de la Fuente — who won a UEFA Nations League title in June just months into the job — has kept that job despite also being a longtime federation ally of Rubiales. Unlike Vilda, De la Fuente did not face a walkout by his entire coaching staff and a player mutiny. Only Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias has said he won’t play for Spain until “things change.” Still, those Nations League victories over Italy then Croatia in the final, in a penalty shootout, seem a long time ago and the Group A table in Euro 2024 qualifying leaves fourth-place Spain lots to do. Group leader Scotland won two more games in June, after stunning Spain 2-0 in March, and are eight points clear ahead of playing last-place Cyprus on Friday.
Luis Rubiales’ kiss has led to the sacking of manager Jorge Vilda, inset (BBC/AFP/Getty)

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