Vilda says Spain sacking 'unfair'

MADRID : Former Spain's women's team coach Jorge Vilda said on Wednesday that he didn't expect to be fired by the country's football federation (RFEF), adding it was "unfair" and "undeserved" weeks after winning the Women's World Cup.

The RFEF announced the decision to sack Vilda on Tuesday, after the new board formed following the suspension of RFEF President Luis Rubiales by soccer's world governing body FIFA over the allegedly non-consensual kiss with Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup victory celebration two weeks ago.

The RFEF later announced it had appointed Montse Tome to succeed Vilda.

"I am as well as I can be for someone who has been world champions 16 days ago, renewed his contract for five more years with a higher salary 10 days ago and then today to be unfairly dismissed," Vilda said in an interview with Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

Considered to be a close ally, Vilda applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign on Aug. 25 but later issued statements condemning his behaviour.

The suspended RFEF president praised Vilda for the World Cup triumph in his speech and offered him a new four-year contract, increasing his annual salary to 500,000 euros ($536,000) from 160,000 euros.

"It was a brief meeting with (interim president) Pedro Rocha and the vice-president for equality. Their explanation was that of 'structural changes'," Vilda said about how he learned he was being sacked.

"My conscience is clear because I have given 100 per cent every day. I said I didn't understand and that I didn't think my dismissal was deserved.

"I will never applaud anything related to machismo. The president was praising my work and announced my renewal, that's what I applauded. The rest... when 150 people around you are applauding, it is