'When we went to sleep, we had to leave the door open' - Jenni Hermoso opens up on Jorge Vilda's authoritarian approach with ex-Spain coach accused of treating players 'like children'

Hermoso - who was kissed without consent by former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales after the Women's World Cup final in August - made the accusation during an appearance on Spanish TV show Planet Calleja. She also said that when Spain's players went out shopping when on international duty, Vilda insisted on looking at their purchases.

Hermoso said: "When we went to sleep [when on international duty], we had to leave the door open and wait for him to come by at night and let him talk to us. He said it was the only time he had to talk to us personally.[Between] knocking on the first door of the first players and reaching the last one, maybe there were players who fell asleep."

In her book No las llames chicas, llámalas futbolistas(Don't call them girls, call them the footballers) journalist Danae Boronat included the testimony of an unnamed Spanish player against Vilda that read: "He treated us like children, while some of us were almost his age. It was very complicated because he was very authoritarian, to the point that he passed in the rooms at night to see if we were there at 11 p.m."

Vilda was sacked in September as part of the fallout from the Rubiales kiss scandal. In 2022, 15 Spanish players signed a letter demanding his removal as coach, citing mental health implications of his managerial methods. Hermoso appeared in court earlier this month to testify against Rubiales, as the judge continues to examine evidence before approving the case for trial. Rubiales denies allegations of sexual assault.

Despite his public support of Rubiales - who has been banned from all footballing activities for three years by FIFA and who could face a sexual assault trial - Vilda was hired as the new head coach of Morocco.

After taking some time away from the national team following the kiss scandal, Hermoso returned to the fold in October under new coach Montserrat Tome. After her court appearance, Hermoso will be looking to help Tigres UANL in the Clausura section of the Liga MX Femenil season.