Spain's RFEF sorry for Rubiales scandal, fires women's coach

Spain's football federation on Tuesday apologised for the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of Luis Rubiales over his World Cup kiss and fired the team's controversial coach, appointing a woman in his sted as part of an overhaul.

The apology came more than two weeks after the 46-year-old RFEF boss sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain defeated England in the final on August 20.

In a letter signed by its interim president Pedro Rocha, the RFEF offered its "most sincere apologies... for the totally unacceptable behaviour of its highest institutional representative during the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and in the moments that followed".

Although the kiss drew condemnation from across the footballing world and beyond, prompting FIFA to suspend him, it was another eight days before the RFEF called for Rubiales to stand down as its president.

But he has refused to resign, defending the kiss as "just a peck" which he claimed was consensual -- which Hermoso completely denies.

"The damage caused to Spanish football, Spanish sport, Spanish society and to the values of football and sport as a whole has been enormous," the RFEF said, extending the apology to FIFA, UEFA "and especially the players of the Spanish national women's team".

Shortly afterwards, the federation announced it was firing Jorge Vilda, 42, who had served as coach to the national team since 2015, and naming its first-ever woman to coach the World Cup-winning squad.

"The RFEF... has decided to dispense with the services of Jorge Vilda as sports director and women's national team coach," the RFEF said in a statement, later naming Montse Tome as his replacement.

"She will be the