The Spanish coach Jorge Vilda criticizes the “inappropriate” kiss of Luis Rubiales

Spanish coach Jorge Vilda, the women’s world champion, has criticized suspended soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, calling the moment he kissed team member Jennifer Hermoso “inappropriate and unacceptable.”

The entire coaching staff of Vilda have resigned in protests against Rubiales but Vilda himself has not resigned despite his latest comments.

The coach was seen applauding at the extraordinary general assembly of the Spanish federation on Friday, when Rubiales delivered an emphatic speech in which he repeatedly insisted that he would not resign and claimed to be the victim of “social murder.”

The two had been allies after Rubiales supported Vilda in September 2022, when 15 national team players withdrew from the squad, alleging that the coach’s management was affecting their emotional state and health.

Of those 15, only three chose to return to the Spanish team that beat England in the final in Sydney.

Vilda issued a statement on Saturday night in which she said: “I deeply regret that the victory of Spanish women’s football has been harmed by the inappropriate behavior carried out by our until now top leader, Luis Rubiales, and that he himself has recognized.

“There is no doubt that it is unacceptable and does not reflect at all the principles and values ​​that I defend in my life, in sport in general and in football in particular.

“I condemn without a doubt any macho attitude, [which should be] far from being an advanced and developed society.

“A clearly undesirable climate has been generated, far from what should have been a great celebration of Spanish sport and women’s sport.

“I reiterate my unwavering commitment to promoting a sport that is a model of equality and respect in our society.”

FIFA has provisionally suspended Rubiales, 46, a former player for Levante in La Liga, from any activity related to soccer during the first 90 days.

The Spanish government has also initiated a judicial process with the objective of suspending it.

Vilda is now the only coach of the women’s team to remain in his position, as assistant directors Montse Tomé, Javier Lerga and Eugenio Gonzalo Martín, physiotherapist Blanca Romero Moraleda and goalkeeping coach Carlos Sánchez left their posts earlier on Saturday.

Some 81 Spanish players, including the 23 world champions, said they would not play for the team again while Rubiales was in charge.

Rubiales had stated that the kiss with the 33-year-old Pachuca Hermoso striker was consented to, something she flatly denied in a statement.

The RFEF then launched a notable statement on Friday night threatening legal action against Hermoso for his “lies”.

Like Vilda, the coach of the men’s team, Luis de la Fuente, also applauded Rubiales’ speech on Friday before issuing a statement criticizing him.