Spain Women’s Team Staff Resignations Amid Rubiales Controversy

Just days after Spain’s women’s national team clinched the World Cup, the Madrid coach’s tenure faced upheaval as several members of his staff stepped away from La Roja.

On Saturday, August 26, a large portion of Jorge Vilda’s coaching team announced their resignation from the Spain women’s national team, a squad that had just secured the World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand with a narrow 1-0 victory over England in the final. The timing coincided with the formal confirmation of Luis Rubiales’ 90-day provisional suspension by FIFA.

RUBIALES, COLLECTOR OF SCANDALS

The day after Rubiales began his term, and despite pledges not to resign in the wake of the controversial kiss incident involving Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup final, several members of Vida’s technical staff communicated their departure from La Roja, leaving Vilda’s leadership team diminished.

Public details from the Extraordinary General Assembly that Friday included Rubiales proposing an extended four-year contract for Vilda, including a substantial salary offer. The discussion highlighted a broader debate about leadership, accountability, and the path forward for the federation and the national team.

The Rubiales Case pushes Jorge Vilda toward a solitary position as staff resigns from Spain’s national team

Montse Tomé, who served as a deputy to Vilda and was offered a leadership role in women’s sports by Rubiales, was the first to sign the resignation notice. She shared the statement via her official Twitter account, signaling a shift in the team’s internal dynamics.

The signatories described a sense of obligation to attend a meeting where they felt their stance had to be demonstrated publicly, even though they disagreed with the messaging conveyed at that event. They recalled the experience of facing the front row of the assembly and the impact it had on the team’s image and on public understanding of the federation’s direction.

The full statement

In response to the events surrounding the Women’s World Cup Final, parts of the Women’s National Football Team issued a formal statement outlining their position in several points:

1. The undersigned members condemn the behavior of the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation toward Jennifer Hermoso, a player on the National Women’s Team.

2. Following the Extraordinary General Assembly on August 25, 2023, at which the president did not resign and presented a narrative that did not reflect Hermoso’s expressed feelings, the technical staff expressed support for the player and endorsed her account. They also noted the discomfort caused by the front-row seating arrangement and the perception it created among society and players regarding the staff’s alignment with federation leadership.

3. Given the unacceptable attitudes and statements attributed to the federation’s top leadership, the undersigned decided to offer their positions to the federation for reassessment.

4. The technical team reiterated their support for the players’ statements and for the public remarks made by Hermoso, aligning with their calls for accountability.

5. The group expressed its willingness to contribute to ongoing restructuring and professionalization of the Women’s National Team, emphasizing their commitment and professional standards in this transitional period.

Montse Tomé Vázquez, assistant technical supervisor for the women’s team, Javier Lerga Garayoa, women’s team assistant technical supervisor, Eugenio Gonzalo Martín, assistant technical supervisor for the women’s team and U17/U16 coach, Blanca Romero Moraleda, physical trainer for the women’s team, Carlos Sánchez García, goalkeeping coach for the national squad, Rubén Jiménez Gómez, analyst technician for the women’s team, Sonia Bermúdez Tribano, U19-U20 women’s coach, Javier Velázquez Díaz, physical trainer for the women’s national teams, Javier Egido Saz, technical analyst for the women’s national teams, Ander Ruíz Mitxelena, goalkeeping coach for the women’s squads, and Elena Fernández Castaño, goalkeeping coach for the women’s national teams, contributed their signatures to the statement.