FILE – Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal during the Women’s Soccer World Cup Group C match between Spain and Zambia on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. . Two players have been selected for the 2023 Women’s Player of the Year award. World Cup winners Aitana Bommatti and Jenni Hermoso of Spain; […]
MADRID (AP) — Record scorer Jenni Hermoso, who has been leading the fight against sexism in Spanish soccer, is no longer on the national team after being kissed on the lips by former federation president Luis Rubiales during the Women’s World Cup final. The team’s former manager, Jorge Vilda, also reportedly engaged in similar behavior. The players decided to go because they felt he routinely invaded their privacy.
Vilda led Spain to victory in the Women’s World Cup last August, defeating England 1-0 in the final, but her anger grew over Rubiales kissing Hermoso without her consent during the award ceremony. He was fired a few weeks later.
In an interview with Spanish television station Cuatro’s Planeta Calleja broadcast on Friday, Hermoso said there was some anxiety when the players were gathered at the hotel.
“When I went to bed, I had to leave the door open and wait for (Wilda) to come and talk to me,” Hermoso said. “He said it was because it was the only moment he could talk to us privately.”
She added that she was also bothered by Wilda’s habit of asking players what they had brought with them when they returned from an outing at the hotel.
The full interview will be broadcast on Monday.
Shortly after he was fired in September, Wilda said in an interview with Cadena SER Radio that he had never acted inappropriately and considered his termination unfair.
“I have always had the utmost respect for the players and everyone I have coached and worked with,” he said.
Spanish players have previously expressed what they consider to be unprofessional or inappropriate behavior surrounding the team, with many refusing to continue playing under Wilda in September 2022. He was trying to force them to change. The Spanish Football Federation, of which Rubiales was president at the time, supported Wilda, but many of the players did not return to the team in time for the World Cup victory.
Rubiales withdrew after folding under enormous pressure. He is currently being investigated in a Spanish court for sexual assault by Hermoso and for allegedly trying to coerce her into publicly supporting him after kissing her. He denies any wrongdoing. Mr. Wilda is also being questioned by a judge on suspicion of pressuring Mr. Hermoso to support Mr. Rubiales.
Hermoso, 33, the Spanish women’s team’s record scorer, has become something of a celebrity in Spain after condemning the kiss and coming forward to promote the Me Too movement in the country’s sport.
Hermoso recently announced that he will be playing for Mexican club Tigres following a stint at rivals Pachuca.
Wilda then signed on to coach the Moroccan women’s team.
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