Spain manager could be sacked 'today' as Luis Rubiales kiss fallout continues

Spain manager Jorge Vilda could be sacked 'today' as the fallout over Luis Rubiales World Cup final kiss continues, it has been claimed.

According to Sky Sports, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) is considering sacking Vilda just ten days after his side won the Women's World Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over England.

Vilda is under increasing pressure after he applauded RFEF President Rubiales' controversial speech at the federation's assembly last Friday.

Rubiales has faced widespread scrutiny after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso in the aftermath of Spain's World Cup final victory. Hermoso has since stressed that the kiss was not consensual.

Addressing Vilda directly on Friday, Rubiales named him as the best coach in women's football and offered him a new four-year deal worth some €500,000 (£429,000) a year.

However on Saturday Vilda changed his tune, releasing a statement criticising Rubiales. However he stopped short of calling for the executive's resignation or sacking.

While Rubiales has refused to quit, claiming that the kiss was consensual, he has already been provisionally suspended "from all football-related activities at national and international level" by FIFA.

According to Sky Sports, acting RFEF president Pedro Rocha will make a decision on Vilda's future by today. Indeed, the Spain boss currently has no players or coaches for upcoming games after his squad said last Friday they would not play for their national side again until the federation's leadership had been removed.

A day later all 11 of Vilda's backroom staff quit.

Vilda also has a history of alienating players and was a hugely divisive figure as head coach of the women's team ahead of this summer's World Cup.

In 2022, 15 Spain players said they would not play for Vilda again because of concerns about their health and emotional state. 12 of those players missed the World Cup.

The Spanish football federation wants Rubiales to resign following his controversial kiss.

Topics: Spain, Womens Football, Womens World Cup

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.