BARCELONA: Spain’s controversial Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda is set to be forced out as the sexism scandal engulfs the Spanish football federation, according to reports on Thursday.

Over 80 national team players are striking in protest until the leadership of the federation (RFEF) is changed, in the wake of president Luis Rubiales’s forcible kiss on the lips of midfielder Jenni Hermoso after the team triumphed in the final in Sydney on Aug 20.

Vilda, who last week applauded a speech in which Rubiales refused to resign from his position and railed against “false feminism”, later criticised Ru­b­­iales’ “inappropriate and unacceptable” behaviour.

World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days, while the Spanish government are seeking to impose their own sanctions and the RFEF have asked him to resign.

While the majority of Spain’s coaching staff offered to step down in the wake of the Rubiales incident, Vilda did not, after Rubiales publicly announced the coach was in line for a new contract with a big pay hike.

Reports in Spain on Thursday said the RFEF’s regional presidents had agreed on the need for Vilda’s departure at a meeting Monday, although he is said to want another role at the federation if he leaves his current post.

“We can’t say that (he has been sacked), we hav­en’t met with Vilda, until next week,” said interim RFEF president Pedro Rocha.

“Once we have, we will explain the relevant news... first we have to listen and talk, that’s the important thing.”

Rocha confirmed Spain men’s coach Luis de la Fuente, who led the team to UEFA Nations League glo­ry in June, would be staying — despite criticism in some quarters after he too applauded Rubiales’ speech.

“Absolutely (staying), he is backed by all the members of the federation,” said Rocha. “He is a hard worker who is doing wonderfully.”

Vilda and Rubiales have been close allies since 15 players went on strike from the Spanish national team in September 2022, in protest against the coach’s methods but also demanding improvements from the federation to travel conditions, support staff numbers and other areas.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2023