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Spanish women’s football team coach Jorge Vilda sacked in wake of Rubiales kiss controversy

Jorge Vilda led Spain to World Cup victory last month when his side beat England 1-0 in the final – but he was “closely aligned” to under-fire Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales.

Jorge Vilda’s leadership was called into question after 15 Spanish players refused to play for him

The head coach of the Spanish women’s football team has been sacked in the wake of the Rubiales kiss furore.

Jorge Vilda led Spain to World Cup victory last month when his side beat England 1-0 in the final.

But he faced criticism after he applauded a speech by Luis Rubiales when the Spanish football federation president refused to resign for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of the final.

Addressing Vilda directly on Friday, Mr Rubiales called him the best coach in women’s football and offered him a new four-year contract worth €500,000 (£429,000) a year.

By Saturday, Vilda had changed his tune, releasing a statement criticising Mr Rubiales – but he stopped short of calling for his resignation or dismissal.

The Spanish football federation said its acting president Pedro Rocha has “decided to dispense with the services of Jorge Vilda as sports director and women’s national coach, a position, the latter, which he accepted in 2015”.

Vilda is lifted up by the Spanish women’s team after their World Cup win

The federation said it “appreciates his work at the head of the national team” as well as the successes achieved during his time.

It added: “We value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, being a key piece in the notable growth of women’s football in Spain. During his extensive period, Vilda has been a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in football,”

Even before the World Cup final, Vilda’s leadership was called into question after 15 Spanish players refused to play for him.
They claimed that they had concerns about their health and emotional state. Only three of those players returned to the fold for the World Cup campaign.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/spanish-womens-football-team-coach-jorge-vilda-sacked-in-wake-of-rubiales-kiss-furore-12955553

Spain’s World Cup-winning women footballers refuse to play until federation boss who kissed player quits

Luis Rubiales insists he won’t step down after he grabbed player Jennifer Hermoso and kissed her on the lips during the trophy presentation ceremony. The head of Spain’s Sports Council is seeking Rubiales’ removal and says “we want this to be a ‘Me Too’ of Spanish soccer”.

Spanish World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso says “in no moment” did she consent to a kiss from the country’s football federation president Luis Rubiales – as the players announced a boycott over the controversy.

Hermoso said she was “vulnerable” and “the victim of an aggression”, as she and the rest of the Spain team revealed they will not play any further matches until the “federation leadership is removed”.

A total of 56 players, including all of the 23-strong World Cup-winning squad, signed the joint statement after Mr Rubiales refused to resign following his controversial kiss at the final.

England’s Lionesses – who were defeated by Spain in the World Cup final – backed the players’ boycott, saying: “Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation. Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth.

“The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.

“We all stand with you, @jennihermoso and all players of the Spanish team.”

The Spanish government has started legal action in a bid to suspend Mr Rubiales from his post – and the head of Spain’s women’s football committee has quit his role.

Mr Rubiales, 46, grabbed player Ms Hermoso and kissed her on the lips during the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney, Australia.

In a statement on Friday night, Ms Hermoso, a 33-year-old forward and key contributor to Spain’s victory, said “in no moment” did she consent to the kiss.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/spains-fa-president-luis-rubiales-refuses-to-quit-as-he-claims-womens-world-cup-final-kiss-was-mutual-12947080

A hero’s welcome: Spain’s victorious Women’s World Cup side parade trophy through Madrid

Spain beat England 1-0 in a tight Women’s World Cup final in Australia on Sunday.

Spain’s victorious Women’s World Cup side parade the trophy through the streets of Madrid on an open-top bus

Spain began their reign as Women’s World Cup champions by arriving home to a hero’s welcome on the streets of Madrid.

Fans packed the streets of the Spanish capital on Monday night as the victorious La Roja paraded through with the trophy on an open-top bus.

The players later got off the bus and took to a stage, where match winner and captain – who scored the only goal in a narrow 1-0 win over England in Australia on Sunday – was tossed up in the air by teammates.

The side had earlier touched down at Barajas international airport, where star defender Ivana Andres lifted the trophy as she walked off the plane from Australia.

It is the first time Spain has won the competition since its inception in 1991.

Spain’s Ivana Andres lifts the trophy. Pic: AP

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/a-heros-welcome-spains-victorious-womens-world-cup-side-parade-trophy-through-madrid-12944869

Women’s World Cup: Heartbreak for England as Lionesses miss out on final glory after defeat to Spain

Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time after defeating England’s Lionesses 1-0.

England’s Lionesses have missed out on glory at the Women’s World Cup after being beaten 1-0 by Spain.

Closely missing out on repeating their success at Euros 2022, Sarina Wiegman’s team fought to the very end at a packed-out Stadium Australia in Sydney.

But a first-half goal by Spain’s Olga Carmona, who shot across Mary Earps into the far corner in the 28th minute, broke England’s hearts.

It is Spain’s first major international trophy and makes them the first European team to win the Women’s World Cup since Germany in 2007.

England had come close to taking the lead themselves in the 15th minute when Lauren Hemp’s shot hit the bar.

A shot from England’s Lauren Hemp, right, hits the crossbar. Pic: AP

Two changes at half-time saw Lauren James and Chloe Kelly replace Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo for the Lionesses, as they tried to turn the game around.

Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso then missed a chance to double her side’s lead from a penalty – granted after a handball by Keira Walsh – after a heroic save by Earps, who dived to her left to save in the 69th minute.

James then forced a save from Spain’s goalkeeper from a tight angle a few minutes later, as England pushed for an equaliser.

Earps even went up to attack a corner in the dying moments for England.

But sadly, it wasn’t to be, as the Lionesses fell short at the final hurdle.

Play was also briefly disrupted during the first half after a protester entered the pitch before an England free kick. The man was swiftly removed by stewards.

‘Absolutely heartbroken’

Captain Millie Bright said the team were “absolutely heartbroken” at the defeat.

“We can say hand on heart we gave everything. Sometimes football goes for you, sometimes it goes against you,” she said.

Complimenting Spain as a “fantastic team” she said: “A lot of emotion… but I’m really proud of the team. To come this far, to play in the World Cup final, not many get to do that.

“This is not it for us, we’ll bounce back.”