Key Points
- The furore involving Rubiales has quickly spiralled into a national debate over women's rights and sexist behaviour.
- Vilda had been under fire since last year after 15 players staged a mutiny calling for his resignation
- Rubiales had praised Vilda for the World Cup triumph and offered him a new four-year contract.
Spain's women's team coach Jorge Vilda has been sacked 10 days
Vilda was replaced by his assistant, Montse Tome, who becomes the first woman to helm the women's national team. She had been Vilda's assistant coach since 2018 and has since "established herself as a key player in the national team's growth", the federation (RFEF) said in a statement.
A new board formed after RFEF president Luis Rubiales' suspension by football's world governing body over the terminated Vilda's contract.
In a statement that gave no reason for his dismissal and did not mention Hermoso, Rubiales or the scandal, RFEF thanked 42-year-old Vilda for his "extraordinary sporting legacy".
"The coach has been key to the remarkable growth of women's football and leaves Spain as world champions and second in the FIFA rankings," the RFEF statement said.
The furore involving Rubiales has quickly spiralled into a national debate over women's rights and sexist behaviour.
In a separate statement by interim President Pedro Rocha, the RFEF apologised for Rubiales' "inappropriate conduct".
"The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous," the three-page statement signed by Rocha said.
Vilda, considered a close ally of Rubiales, had been under fire since last year after 15 players staged a mutiny calling for his resignation because of inadequate coaching methods and calling for conditions to match those of the men's squad.
Most of the players involved were cut from the squad even as some demands were met.
Luis Rubiales had praised Jorge Vilda for the World Cup triumph and offered him a new four-year contract. Source: Getty / Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Vilda says sacking 'unfair'
In an interview with Spanish radio network Cadena SER following his dismissal, Vilda defended his record with the team.
"In sporting terms, I am going to accept all the criticisms, but on a personal level I think it has been unfair," Vilda said.
"It has been a special year. Nothing has ever been said directly, but indirectly things have been said that do not suit me. Things have been said that are not true."
Vilda added: "The explanation is that there have been 'structural changes'. After everything I have achieved, of working hard as just another worker, I have a clear conscience.
"I have given 100 per cent and I don't understand it - I didn't see my dismissal as deserved."
Vilda also defended his reaction to Rubiales' defiant speech at the RFEF general assembly.
"I will never applaud anything sexist," he said. "I didn't know very well why I was going to that assembly, I thought there was going to be a resignation.
"The president is valuing your work and announcing your renewal, I applauded that. I also applaud Rubiales' management of the women's football, with a budget that has multiplied by four.
"The rest - when 150 people around you applaud, it is very difficult to be the only one who doesn't."
