Spain's national coach forced out over World Cup scandal
The Guardian|September 06, 2023
Jorge Vilda has been sacked as Spain's coach and sporting director less than a month after winning the World Cup, as the country's football federation seeks to limit the damage caused by the crisis engulfing the team.
Sid Lowe and Ashifa Kassam
Spain's national coach forced out over World Cup scandal

The decision was announced as the first of a series of measures to "renew" women's football put in place by its interim president, Pedro. Rocha, although no specific reason was given for the dismissal.

Vilda had come under pressure after applauding the president of the federation, Luis Rubiales, during a speech in which he refused to resign, despite kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony at the end of the final in Sydney. After the incident, 81 players, including all 23 members of the World Cup-winning squad, announced that they would not play for the national team while "current administrators" were in place. Eleven members of the coaching staff also resigned.

Fifa, the world governing body, has since provisionally suspended Rubiales.

On Friday, Spain are due to name their squad for games against Sweden and Switzerland that will decide whether the world champions are at next summer's Olympics in Paris.

A meeting of the regional presidents decided that Vilda had to be removed as a matter of urgency and Rocha spoke to him yesterday morning to negotiate a severance agreement before the decision was formally announced in the afternoon.

This story is from the September 06, 2023 edition of The Guardian.

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This story is from the September 06, 2023 edition of The Guardian.

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