Continued Consequences of the Controversial Kiss; Spain's Women's National Football Team Coach Fired

Jorge Vilda, the coach of Spain's women's national football team, world champions, has been dismissed by the country's football federation. His firing is one of the repercussions of Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation, kissing player Jenni Hermoso, which has turned into a major controversy in recent days. Following this kiss, which was done without Jenni Hermoso's consent during the medal ceremony for the Spanish players, FIFA opened a disciplinary case against Luis Rubiales and temporarily suspended him from his position. Jorge Vilda, considered an ally of Rubiales, was fired by the Spanish Football Federation on Tuesday, September 5, just ten days after Rubiales' suspension, without any explanation. The new board, which is managing the Spanish Football Federation in the absence of Rubiales, terminated Vilda's contract despite his impressive results in the Australia-New Zealand World Cup. In its statement, the Spanish Football Federation praised Vilda's 'valuable sports achievements' without mentioning the reasons for his dismissal or the controversial kiss by Rubiales. The statement noted, 'Jorge Vilda has been a significant factor in the growth of women's football in Spain and has raised the country's ranking to second in the world following the World Cup championship.' The kiss by Luis Rubiales has angered many Spanish citizens, turning it into a national debate about women's rights and gender behavior in the country. In a separate statement released by Pedro Rocha, the interim president of the Spanish Football Federation, he apologized for Rubiales' 'inappropriate behavior.' Rocha wrote in this three-page statement, 'The damage inflicted on football, sports, and Spanish society, as well as the values of football and sports in this country, has been immense.' Jorge Vilda faced significant criticism since last year when over fifteen Spanish players demanded his dismissal due to his coaching style. Many of these players were sidelined from the national team due to unmet demands. Sports presenter Danae Boronat, who interviewed prominent Spanish female players for her book 'Don't Call Them Girls, Call Them Footballers,' stated that players accuse Vilda of micromanagement and interfering in all matters, such as instructing players on what to say in interviews. Reuters was unable to reach Jorge Vilda for comment. Luis Rubiales also did not respond to the agency's request. Vilda and Luis de la Fuente, the men's national team coach, initially encouraged Rubiales when he refused to resign on August 25, but later criticized the behavior of the president of the Spanish Football Federation in separate statements. After Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup, Rubiales praised Vilda and offered him a new four-year contract that would increase his annual salary from 160,000 euros to 500,000 euros. Fifty-eight top female players in Spain stated that they would not play for the national team unless fundamental changes were made in the Spanish Football Federation. A source within the Spanish Football Federation told Reuters last week that the federation was consulting with these players about continuing to work with Jorge Vilda. The Spanish government's action to remove the president of the football federation continues the aftershocks of the controversial kiss. The unfinished consequences of the 'forbidden kiss' have led to the Spanish government's efforts to suspend Rubiales. Was the kiss consensual or not? The Spanish Football Federation is holding an emergency meeting. Three months of suspension; FIFA has punished the president of the Spanish Football Federation. The consequences of the controversial kiss; FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against the president of the Spanish Football Federation. The controversial kiss in the Women's World Cup final; the Prime Minister of Spain: an apology is not enough.