Spain coach Jorge Vilda has hit out at Luis Rubiales for his «improper behaviour» following his unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso after members of his coaching staff stepped down from their roles.
Rubiales, the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), has been under pressure since the incident at the Women's World Cup final but refused to resign Friday, saying the kiss was «mutual and with consent.» — Charting Spain FA president's five controversial years in charge Pachuca forward Hermoso replied in a statement later in the day, disputing Rubiales' version of events and saying she «felt vulnerable and the victim of aggression, an impulsive, sexist act which was out of place and with no consent on my behalf.» FIFA, world football's governing body, announced on Saturday that Rubiales would be provisionally suspended from all football-related activities for 90 days.
Following the announcement, federation vice president Rafael del Amo, who had been in charge of women's football, resigned. Four assistant coaches for Spain's senior team, plus two coaches of the women's youth teams, and five other staff members for the senior and youth women's teams also resigned on Saturday.
On Saturday evening, Vilda released a statement to the Spanish news agency EFE criticising Rubiales' behaviour at the World Cup. «The events that have taken place since Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time in its history and to this day have been a real nonsense and have generated an unprecedented situation, tarnishing a well-deserved victory for our players and our country,» he said. «I regret deeply that the victory of Spanish women's football has been harmed by the inappropriate behaviour that our until now top leader, Luis