Jorge Vilda’s weak attempt to jump off a sinking ship that he was first mate on has failed. He is now gone but he had to be pushed. His crew had abandoned him, with 81 players ruling themselves out of contention for selection for the Spanish national team and most of his staff resigning but still the head coach clung on.
His limp condemnation of the actions of the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, who was seen kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips and separately grabbing his crotch before lifting Athenea del Castillo over his shoulder, came almost a whole week after the World Cup victory of his team that had been overshadowed by the above controversy.
In a statement on Saturday 26 August he said he “regretted deeply that the victory of Spanish women’s football has been harmed by the inappropriate behaviour [of] our until now top leader, Luis Rubiales”. It was too little too late, the actions of a desperate man more than complicit in developing an environment the players have protested against over and over – to a point that 15 players withdrew their services from the national team last year, partly to protect their health.
Before attention had fully been drawn to the actions of Rubiales, the RFEF’s X (formerly Twitter) account had provocatively tweeted “Vilda in” above a picture of the controversial manager kissing the World Cup trophy that several of Spain’s best players had been denied the chance to compete for if they were to maintain their opposition to the manager and his practices. It was a defiant defence of the controversial manager, who many believe had held Spain back rather than been integral to their triumph in Australia and New Zealand.
During a remarkable speech on Friday 25 August an increasingly under-pressure Rubiales had promised to pay Vilda €500,000 (£425,000) a year for four years during a shock tirade that ended with him shouting “I will not resign” over and over when he had been expected to announce his departure. Vilda was front row, nodding, clapping and then giving a standing ovation to Rubiales alongside the men’s national team manager, Luis de la Fuente. The following day came that weak condemnation of the president who has so protected him.
So finally, Vilda is out, having been removed from his post, but not without further controversy. The acting president of the federation, Pedro Rocha, who has taken charge while Rubiales is investigated by Fifa and banned from all football-related activities for 90 days, looked to repair the damage done to the reputation of the organisation, releasing a three page statement, which failed to mention Hermoso at all. It said: “To football institutions (Fifa, Uefa and FN), to footballers, especially the players of the Spanish and English women’s national team, external agents involved, and fans all over the world. For the actions of our maximum representative during the final and in the moments prior. They do not represent in any way the values of Spanish society.”
However, just two hours later the federation was praising the outgoing Vilda in a statement announcing his removal and thus undermining any attempt to right wrongs. “The RFEF is grateful for his work as the head of the women’s national teams as well as the successes achieved during his stage crowned with the recent achievement of the World Cup,” it said.
“We value his impeccable personal and sporting behaviour, being a key piece in the remarkable growth of women’s football in Spain. During his extensive period, Vilda has been a promoter of the values of respect and sportsmanship in soccer.”
The RFEF apologises for the actions of Rubiales yet applauds the departing Vilda and seemingly sees no contradiction or connection between those two things. Had Rubiales’ actions not been aired to millions around the world following the final, what would have happened if the players had complained. Would he have been condemned then? The support for Vilda even on his exit is a kick in the teeth to every player that has fought to have their complaints against oppressive environments taken seriously.
Vilda has been replaced by Montse Tomé, his assistant and one of those who resigned after the Rubiales speech. She becomes the first woman to manage Spain’s women’s national team. One replacement and one so close to the previous and existing regime is not enough though.
As the former Spain international Vero Boquete said on Spanish TV on Tuesday it is important to “not talk about switching one [manager] with another, it’s deeper than that.” She added that the whole episode was “proof that they don’t understand the problem” and “a missed opportunity to make a bigger change”.
The fact is that the treatment of Vilda as he was dismissed is symbolic of attitudes in football and more generally. He cannot be a lone scalp. Spanish football – football and society generally – cannot be let off its reckoning.
• Moving the Goalposts is our weekly women’s football newsletter. To subscribe to the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions.
Have a question for our writers – or want to suggest a topic to cover? Email moving.goalposts@theguardian.com.
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
