Spain’s preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup are in shambles as their federation announced on Wednesday that they have sacked coach Julen Lopetegui a mere 24 hours before the tournament kicks off.

Lopetegui’s future as the immediate Spain boss had come under threat after UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid on Tuesday announced the Spaniard would be replacing Zinedine Zidane after the World Cup had concluded.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) was reportedly miffed that Lopetegui had announced the decision days before La Roja began their quest for a second World Cup.

And RFEF president Luis Rubiales, at a press conference in Krasnodar, confirmed that the national team would be parting ways with their coach:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “Nos hemos visto obligados a prescindir del seleccionador nacional. Le deseamos la mayor de las suertes. Lo que consiga la @SeFutbol, tendrá que ver con el trabajo que ha desarrollado” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

Rubiales went on to state that negotiations between Lopetegui’s representatives and Real Madrid had taken place without the federation’s knowledge and such an act was unacceptable:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “La negociación ha ocurrido sin ninguna información a la @rfef. Apenas 5 minutos antes de la nota de prensa. Hay una forma de actuar que hay que cumplir” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

Rubiales, however, stopped short of accusing Lopetgui of betrayal as he praised the coach for the work done with the team since taking over in 2016:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “No me siento traicionado. Lopetegui, mientras ha estado con nosotros, ha hecho un trabajo impecable. Otro coa es cómo se ha hecho esto, sin conocimiento de la @rfef” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

The 40-year-old former defender went on to add that the timing of the announcement by Los Blancos was poor:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “La @SeFutbol es el equipo de todos los españoles. No se pueden hacer las cosas de esta manera, a 2-3 días del Mundial. Nos hemos visto obligados a tomar esta decisión” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

Rubiales added that such a major decision cannot be revealed without a significant heads up:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “La @rfef no puede permanecer al margen de una negociación de uno de sus trabajadores y enterarse 5 minutos antes de la emisión de un comunicado. Nos hemos visto obligados a actuar” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

He slammed Los Blancos by stating that someone has to contact the current employers of a worker first, before contacting the employee:

🗣 @LuisRubiales: “La @rfef no puede permanecer al margen de una negociación de uno de sus trabajadores y enterarse 5 minutos antes de la emisión de un comunicado. Nos hemos visto obligados a actuar” https://t.co/Jyxqb81K23

— RFEF (@rfef) June 13, 2018

Lopetetgui’s replacement has not been announced and it remains to be seen how the 2010 World Cup champions will cope in Russia.

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