Spanish women's football players make call to sack coach Jorge Vilda

According to the RFEF, the players say his stay is harming their physical and emotional health

KARACHI: According to the Spanish Football Federation, 15 players have indicated they will leave the women's national team if head coach Jorge Vilda is not fired.

According to the RFEF, the players say his stay is harming their physical and emotional health.

The RFEF, however, said that "is not going to allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach".

"These types of manoeuvres are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport. Making those decisions does not fall within their powers," they said.

It also stated that it would not call up the 15 and cautioned that declining to play for the national team was "a very serious infraction and can carry punishments of between two and five years of disqualification."

"The Federation will only have committed footballers even if they have to play with youth," it added.

"This fact has gone from being a sporting issue to a dignity issue. The selection is non-negotiable. It is an unprecedented situation in the history of football, both male and female, in Spain and worldwide.

"The national team needs players committed to the project, defending our colours and proud to wear the Spain shirt."

Since taking over as head coach of the national team in 2015, Vilda has guided his squad to the quarterfinals of Euro 22, where the tournament favourites fell to eventual champions England in extra time.

Ignacio Quereda, Vilda's predecessor from 2015, resigned as a result of demands for his dismissal from Spain's players. After Spain placed last in their World Cup group, the decision was made.