Spain’s football federation (RFEF) has appointed Montse Tome to succeed the fired Jorge Vilda as the women’s national team coach, making her the first woman to manage the side, it said on Tuesday.
Tome had been Vilda’s assistant coach since 2018 and has since “established herself as a key player in the national team’s growth”, the federation said in a statement.
Vilda’s contract was terminated earlier on Tuesday by the federation’s new board, which was formed after the suspension of RFEF president Luis Rubiales by Fifa over his allegedly non-consensual kiss with Spain player Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup victory celebration two weeks ago.
Criminal complaint
Hermoso has lodged a criminal complaint over the unsolicited kiss, the national prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday.
Hermoso gave her testimony on Tuesday and the complaint will be processed “as soon as possible”, the prosecutor added.
With the complaint, Rubiales could face criminal charges in addition to the ongoing inquiry by Spain’s top sport court for “serious misconduct”.
Vilda cries foul
Vilda said on Wednesday that he didn’t expect to be fired, adding it was “unfair” and “undeserved”, weeks after winning the Women’s World Cup.
“I am as well as I can be for someone who has been world champions 16 days ago, renewed his contract for five more years with a higher salary 10 days ago and then today to be unfairly dismissed,” Vilda said in an interview with Spanish radio Cadena Ser.
Considered to be a close ally, Vilda applauded Rubiales when he refused to resign on August 25 but later issued statements condemning his behaviour.
