Former Spain Women's Boss Jorge Vilda Hits Out After "Unfair" Dismissal By RFEF

Jorge Vilda believes it was "unfair" that he was fired from his job as manager of the Spain women's national team this week.

The 42-year-old was dismissed on Tuesday - 16 days after his side had beaten England 1-0 in the Women's World Cup final.

"In sporting terms, I am going to accept all the criticisms, but on a personal level I think it has been unfair," Vilda told Cadena SER.

"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Vilda has been replaced by former assistant manager Montse Tome.

Jorge Vilda was fired from his role as manager of the Spain women's national team on Tuesday

IMAGO/PA Images/Isabel Infantes

Tome and 10 other members of Vilda's coaching staff resigned less than a week after last month's World Cup final as part of a protest against the behavior of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and its president Luis Rubiales.

Meanwhile, 81 players have refused to play for Spain again until Rubiales is removed from his position.

Rubiales grabbed his crotch while in a VIP area of Stadium Australia following Spain's victory over England and later kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the lips - "without any consent", according to the player herself.

Despite being suspended by FIFA and temporarily replaced by interim president Pedro Rocha, Rubiales has refused to resign and has vowed to "fight until the end" against what he described as a "social assassination".

Vilda was a close ally of Rubiales and was seen applauding the president when he repeatedly said "I will not resign" at an RFEF general assembly five days after he kissed Hermoso.

Rubiales also publicly offered Vilda a new four-year contract during that defiant speech, though the offer was never formalized.

Vilda was a close ally of disgraced RFEF president Luis Rubiales

IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Memmler

The RFEF did not give a specific reason for firing Vilda in its parting statement published on Tuesday.

Instead, the statement described Vilda as "a promoter of the values ​​of respect and sportsmanship in football".

Vilda had been in charge of the Spanish women's national side since 2015.

With the support of Rubiales, Vilda survived an internal revolt last year. In September, 15 players said via email that they would not play for Vilda again unless "significant" concerns over their "emotional state" and "health" were addressed.

Just three of those 15 players ended their exile to feature at the Women's World Cup.