World Cup kiss scandal
Spain coach Vilda also criticized association boss Rubiales
Coach Jorge Vilda led Spain to the World Cup title. photo
© Alessandra Tarantino/AP/dpa
The support for Spain’s association boss continues to dwindle. Coach Jorge Vilda also stands up to Luis Rubiales after the kiss scandal. His team had previously drawn drastic consequences.
In the scandal surrounding the kiss after winning the World Cup final, Spain’s national coach Jorge Vilda also left the controversial association boss Luis Rubiales distanced.
“I deeply regret that the victory of Spanish women’s football has been marred by the inappropriate behavior of our outgoing President Luis Rubiales, which he himself admitted,” said Vilda in a statement released by the Europa Press news agency, among others.
The events following the triumph of the Spanish soccer team in the World Cup final led to an “outrageous” situation that overshadowed the success they deserved, criticized Vilda. Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth at the award ceremony, triggering a wave of outrage. The association boss has so far refused to resign despite sharp criticism from politics and society. World governing body FIFA has suspended Rubiales and initiated disciplinary proceedings.
Condemnation of “macho attitude”
“This is undoubtedly unacceptable and in no way corresponds to the principles and values that I represent in my life, in sport in general and in football in particular,” wrote the 42-year-old Vilda, referring to the behavior of the association’s president. He condemns “any macho attitude” that does not belong to a progressive society.
Previously, almost all of Vilda’s coaching staff had resigned in protest at Rubiales’ behavior. The players of the Spanish national team had also announced that they would not play as long as Rubiales was in office.
Vilda is also not without controversy in Spain. Last year, 15 national players declared their temporary withdrawal from the Spanish selection in an email. They explained that the current situation under Vilda and his coaching staff is “significantly” affecting their “emotional state” and “health”. The association put themselves before Vilda, some of the players returned to the national team.