Spain’s World Cup coach sacked over controversial kiss incident.

Fallout grows after Spanish soccer president allegedly kissed female player ⁤without consent

Spain‘s football federation (RFEF) has sacked Jorge⁢ Vilda, the coach of its ⁣World Cup-winning women’s team, 10 days after FIFA suspended the federation’s president for kissing national team ⁢player Jenni Hermoso⁤ on the mouth.

A‍ new board formed⁤ after the suspension of RFEF president ‌Luis Rubiales by soccer’s world governing body⁣ FIFA over the allegedly non-consensual kiss during the ‌ World Cup victory celebration two weeks ago has terminated Vilda’s contract.

In a statement that did⁣ not mention ​Hermoso, Rubiales, or the scandal, the 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 furor ⁤involving Rubiales has⁢ quickly spiraled into a national debate over‍ women’s ⁤rights ⁢and sexist behavior.

Considered a close ally of Rubiales,⁤ Vilda 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.

Danae Boronat, a sports presenter who interviewed Spain‘s leading female‍ players ​for her book Don’t Call Them Girls, Call⁣ Them Footballers, said players accused Vilda of micromanaging, such as instructing⁤ senior players⁣ what to say in interviews.

Vilda and Luis de La Fuente, the men’s national team manager, applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign on Aug. 25 but later‍ issued ‍statements condemning ‌his behavior.

(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; additional ⁣reporting ​by Inti Landauro; writing by ⁤Charlie Devereux; editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)

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