Spain’s coaching staff resign over Luis Rubiales scandal

Spain’s entire women’s coaching staff, except the manager Jorge Vilda, have resigned over the Luis Rubiales row.

Recall that the President of the Spanish FA had ignited a controversy after he kissed Jennifer Hermoso as they celebrated winning the World Cup. He has subsequently been suspended by FIFA, with the tournament-winning coaching team now deciding to walk out.

In a statement posted on social media, the coaching staff said they’ve “taken the decision to tender their resignation” to the RFEF and expressed their “firm and categorical condemnation of Luis Rubiales’ behaviour towards Jennifer Hermoso”.

It read in full;

“As a result of the events that occurred after the final of the Women’s Soccer World Cup, part of the Women’s Soccer Team wants to make its position public.

“The undersigned express their firmest and most emphatic condemnation of the conduct shown by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar, with the player of the National Women’s Soccer Team, Jennifer Hermoso.

“After the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which took place on August 25, 2023, in which the president of the RFEF did not present his resignation and in which he offered a story that does not reflect in any way any of the feelings of the aforementioned player, who has expressly stated that she felt ‘victim of aggression’, this part of the Technical Staff supports the player Jennifer Hermoso, endorsing the version offered by her.

“Adding the inconvenience of having to necessarily attend the aforementioned assembly on August 25, in which, in addition, there was a particularly hurtful event for this coaching staff, since several of the female members of the coaching staff were forced to wear in the front row, exposing their image and trying to make society and players understand.

“For all these reasons, the undersigned, in light of the unacceptable attitudes and statements made by the top leader of the RFEF, have made the decision to place their positions at the disposal of the RFEF.

“This part of the Technical Team shows its support for the statement published by the players of the Women’s National Soccer Team, in reference to said actions and statements made by the president of the RFEF, and more specifically to the public statements made by the player Jenni Hermoso.

“The undersigned want to end this statement by accepting the part of responsibility that falls to us regarding the restructuring and professionalisation of the Women’s Team, a task for which we have always worked with the greatest motivation and professionalism.”

The statement then lists an array of names, who have chosen to leave their positions with the Spanish FA following the nation’s World Cup win.

Those who signed the statement include Javier Lerga, Eugenio Gonzalo, Blanca Romero, Carlos Sanchez, Ruben Jimenez, Sonia Bermudez, Javier Velazquez, Javier Egido, Ander Ruiz, Elena Fernandez and Vilda’s assistant Montse Tome.