Spain boss appears to grab female coach's breast during World Cup celebrations
Footage has emerged appearing to show Spain head coach Jorge Vilda touching a female staff member inappropriately during the Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England.
La Roja boss Vilda has been thrust into fresh controversy following his team’s triumph at the summer’s showpiece event after a year in which the Spanish FA (RFEF) and Vilda have been accused of maltreatment and inappropriate behaviour from 15 players, known infamously as “la 15”.
Seconds after captain Olga Carmona’s 29th-minute goal against the Lionesses, footage shows the Spanish staff celebrating, during which Vilda’s left hand seemingly lingers on a female staff member’s breast.
The video, which lasts less than 10 seconds, has been circulated widely on social media and has exacerbated an already polarising situation surrounding the former Real Madrid player and his position at the helm of the women’s senior national team.
Following Spain’s quarter-final victory over the Netherlands, footage showed players celebrating on the pitch but conspicuously ignoring Vilda, an occasion that was repeated on the night of the final as players and staff celebrated on separate sides of the pitch.
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Vilda was also snubbed a handshake by Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas after the semi-final victory over Sweden and booed vociferously by fans as his name was announced before the Women's World Cup final.
Vilda's actions arrive in tandem with those of RFEF president Luis Ruibelas, who kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup medal ceremony while also appearing to make an obscene gesture during full-time celebrations.
The incidents have piled immense pressure on both Vilda and Rubiales, the latter of whom has been heavily criticised for his role in handling the fractured relationship between the players and the coaching staff.
And the RFEF has now called an Extraordinary General Assembly for 1 September to discuss “the latest events that occurred during the award ceremony of the Women's World Cup."
After last summer’s European championship, players set up a video call with Rubiales to lay out grievances against Vilda, which included inadequate preparation for the tournament, poor tactical management and inefficient training methods.
Complaints also emerged around Vilda’s conduct, in which the coach was alleged to have implemented a rule until 2019 in which players could not lock hotel rooms until he came around to check on them. All personal belongings and bags were also subject to rigorous checks.
Fifteen senior players declared themselves unavailable for national team selection until change occurred, but Rubiales and the RFEF told players to desist or defer altogether. While some players were eventually brought back into the fold, a number of notable stars, including Barcelona defender Mapi Leon, were absent from the World Cup campaign due to the ongoing dispute.
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