September 28 – Jorge Vilda, the former head coach of Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s team, is being investigated as part of the ongoing criminal case against Luis Rubiales.
Vilda has reportedly been summoned to appear before a judge as part of the probe into Rubiales kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips which led to the resignation of the Spanish FA (RFEF) boss.
The scope of the sexual assault investigation into the infamous kiss is now to include alleged efforts by Rubiales to coerce Hermoso into saying it was consensual, according to Spanish media.
Vilda was sacked as manager just 10 days after the World Cup having been widely criticised for repeatedly applauding Rubiales during an emergency RFEF assembly in which the latter railed against what he described as “false feminism”.
Vilda’s own conduct has now been brought into the expanded investigation, according to a statement by Spain’s High Court.
The statement did not elaborate on the reason, though local reports suggest that Vilda allegedly pressured Hermoso to put out a statement exonerating Rubiales. Vilda has denied this.
Spain went into the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand following a revolt by several senior players against their treatment by Vilda, yet managed to win the tournament without them.
Earlier this month, the World Cup-winning squad agreed to end a proposed boycott of the national team after the RFEF said it would make “immediate and profound changes” to its structure.
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