Key takeaways:
- Jorge Vilda was fired two weeks after leading Spain’s women’s soccer team to the World Cup title
- Captains of Spain’s men’s national team have condemned the “unacceptable behavior” of soccer federation president Luis Rubiales
- The firing of Vilda and the controversy surrounding Rubiales’ actions have sparked a larger conversation about gender equality in Spain
On Tuesday, Spain’s women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda was fired just two weeks after leading his team to the World Cup title. The firing was in response to an unwanted celebratory kiss between the team’s coach and player Jenni Hermoso during the post-match medal ceremony.
The captains of Spain’s men’s national team have condemned the “unacceptable behavior” of soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who was responsible for the kiss. The Royal Spanish Football Federation has also issued an apology for Rubiales’ actions.
The historic victory had initially sparked wild celebrations throughout Spain, but the joy quickly shifted to a national debate about the country’s deep-rooted patriarchal norms. Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and is facing a Spanish government case against him for the conduct that prompted a storm of criticism and led to widespread calls for his resignation.
The firing of Vilda and the controversy surrounding Rubiales’ actions have sparked a larger conversation about gender equality in Spain. The country’s soccer federation has promised to take steps to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. It remains to be seen how the federation will address the issue going forward.
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