Vilda fired as coach of Spain’s women’s team amid sexism scandal
Jorge Vilda was fired as head coach of Spain’s women’s national team Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the 23 players who won the World Cup in August called for his ouster.
Vilda’s former assistant coach, Montse Tome, replaced the 42-year-old, becoming the first woman to occupy the position.
Vilda had become embroiled in a larger sexism scandal involving Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales, who forcibly kissed Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso during the team’s medal ceremony.
Hermoso said the kiss wasn’t consensual and that it amounted to sexual assault.
Rubiales is currently serving a provisional suspension while FIFA conducts an investigation.
Vilda, long considered one of Rubiales’ closest allies, applauded the under-fire president during an impassioned speech in which the head of the Spanish federation pleaded his