Author: Amrit Santlani
The hypocrisy, which is already bordering on stupidity, continues
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has sacked FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda, who was a staunch supporter of Luis Rubiales, the current president suspended in the wake of the kissing scandal.
Rubiales kissed Spanish striker Jenni Hermoso moments after Spain’s victory over Sweden in the FIFA World Cup, generating a great deal of controversy, especially after the player herself mentioned that the kiss was not consensual.
Remember that Hermoso and his teammates discussed this kiss on the club bus with laughter. But then (guess why?) they began to “stigmatize” Rubiales.
Since the video of the bus is publicly available, this change in behavior now seems not only hypocritical, but simply stupid.
Following Vilda’s resignation, Montse Tome was appointed the new coach of La Roja’s women’s team, becoming the first woman to hold the position of coach.
After Rubiales refused to step down, much of Vilda’s coaching staff had already offered their resignations, along with 81 players who said they would not play for Spain as part of their opposition to the RFEF president. FIFA subsequently suspended Rubiales and interim president Pedro Rocha was installed in his place.
Rocha called Tome’s appointment “the first steps of renewal”, while the RFEF thanked Vilda for her contributions.
“The RFEF appreciates the work [de Vilda] has done at the head of the national team and in his role as head of sports for the women’s teams, as well as the successes achieved during his time, crowned with the recent World Cup win,” the Spanish federation’s statement said.
Tomé, who represented Oviedo Moderno, Levante and Barcelona during her playing career, has already made four appearances for the national team and the former midfielder was already part of Vilda’s coaching staff. The 41-year-old will take charge of the women’s team ahead of the UEFA Nations League qualifiers later this month, when they will face Sweden once again, followed by a clash against Switzerland.
Vilda had already survived a major player revolt in September last year, when 15 players resigned claiming they wouldn’t play under the coach, who has been in charge since 2015. During his tenure, the Spaniard oversaw 75 wins in 108 matches.
Praising Tome after her appointment, the RFEF wrote:“She knows the dressing room very well and also has extensive knowledge of the excellent national youth team.”