Spain’s victory was overshadowed by Rubiales, the president of the country’s football organization, kissing forward Jenni Hermoso, which she said was not consensual.

In the aftermath, the majority of Vilda’s coaching staff quit, and 81 players declined to play for Spain.

Rubiales has refused to resign, but Fifa, football’s world governing body, has suspended him indefinitely.

The Spanish football association, the RFEF, issued a statement in which it stated that Vilda had been “a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in football.”

However, the RFEF has been considering whether to fire Vilda, 42, a close supporter of Rubiales, since last week.

He was seen applauding Rubiales at the RFEF’s extraordinary general meeting earlier this month, when Rubiales repeatedly stated that he would not resign and would offer Vilda a new contract, though he has subsequently criticized his behavior.

“The RFEF appreciates [Vilda’s] work as the head of the national team and as the head of sports for the women’s teams, as well as the successes achieved during his time, crowned with the recent World Cup victory,” the RFEF said.

“We value his impeccable personal and sporting conduct, as he has played an important role in the significant growth of women’s football in Spain.”

Vilda, who had been in charge of the national team since 2015, survived a player’revolt’ in September 2022, when the RFEF issued a statement revealing that 15 players had sent identical emails saying they would not play for Vilda unless “significant” concerns about their “emotional state” and “health” were addressed.

The ‘Las 15′ – as the players became known – refuted rumors that they had urged Vilda, who has always maintained Rubiales’ support, to be fired, but tensions rose amid reports of concerns about training techniques and insufficient game preparation.

Only three of those 15 returned to the squad when Spain defeated England in the World Cup final in Sydney last month.

Vilda coached Spain for 108 matches, winning 75 of them. Spain reached the European Championship quarter-finals in 2017 and 2022.

The World Cup champions are now ranked second in Fifa’s women’s world rankings.

The RFEF statement went on to say, “The RFEF would like to express its gratitude to Jorge Vilda for the services provided, for his professionalism and dedication over the years, and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

“The RFEF has left an extraordinary sporting legacy as a result of the implementation of a recognized game model and a methodology that has been a growth engine for all of the national team’s women’s categories.”

The RFEF expresses “sincere apologies” for Rubiales’ actions.
Earlier on Tuesday, the RFEF’s acting president, Pedro Rocha, apologized to the “whole football world” for Rubiales’ “totally unacceptable behavior.”

Rocha stated that he intends to “restore the spotlight” to the women’s squad after their World Cup triumph was eclipsed.

“The Royal Spanish Football Federation, through its president, Mr. Pedro Rocha, considers it essential to present the most sincere apologies to football institutions, players, particularly the players of the Spanish National Football Team and the English National Football Team, stakeholders involved in football, and fans around the world for the totally unacceptable behavior of its highest institutional representative during the finals,” the statement said.

“The harm done to Spanish football, Spanish sport, Spanish society, and the values of football and sport in general has been enormous.”

“The RFEF wishes to express its deepest regret to the entire society and football world for what occurred, which has tarnished our team, football, and society.”

“We must sincerely apologize and make a firm and absolute commitment that such events will never happen again.”

Rubiales has been charged with misbehavior by Spain’s national sports tribunal (TAD).

Spain’s men’s team criticized his “unacceptable behavior” on Monday, expressing “regret and solidarity with the players whose success has been tarnished.”

Rubiales maintained the kiss with Hermoso was consensual after maintaining he would not quit in a speech days after the World Cup final, while the RFEF said it will take legal action over her “lies”

Rocha stated that he “regretted” the occurrence since it “diminished what should have been a continuous celebration of football.”

“The performance of Mr. Rubiales at that time and in the hours that followed is not acceptable under any circumstances, and as a result, the RFEF immediately removed from its website all those inappropriate and meaningless communications that did not value what the national team had accomplished and did not take into account the player’s statements about these events.”

“To be clear, this was Mr. Rubiales’ position, not the RFEF’s. We are especially regretful and ashamed for the additional grief and distress this has caused.”

“I want to congratulate our team once more on its historic victory, recognising the impact and legacy that this victory will have on the future of Spanish football,” Rocha continued. We are confident that their spirit has inspired millions of people of all ages, and we could not be more proud of how they have conducted themselves both on and off the field of play.

“In due course, I intend to return the spotlight to them and celebrate their accomplishments as they deserve.”