July 17 – Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chairman Pedro Rocha has been suspended for two years by the Spanish Sports Administrative Tribunal (TAD) for abuse of authority.
In September, the RFEF dismissed then general secretary Andreu Camps, but TAD has deemed that decision an excess of Rocha’s powers. Camps was the federation’s general secretary general under Luis Rubiales, the former RFEF chairman who fell into disrepute after his unsolicited kiss of Jennifer Hermoso during the medals ceremony at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.
The decision comes two days after Rocha attended the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England in Berlin where La Roja claimed a record fourth European title and may prompt a new crisis at the RFEF.
Rocha was also slapped with two fines worth fines of €16,527.84.
According to the TAD, the sanction was imposed because “the Tribunal considers that the nature of the offences, which reflect an arbitrary and despotic exercise of the federation’s functions (…) and the circumstances surrounding the incident, such as the intentionality and the gross and flagrant illegality of the behaviour (…)”.
Rocha will not be able to stand for any roles in sports, but he will appeal the decision.
On social media, La Liga chair Javier Tebas condemned the decision.
“Let’s wait for the judicial decision, because the behaviour of those responsible for this nonsense is not typical of a serious country,” posted Tebas.
In April, Rocha succeeded Rubiales on a full-time basis after having been handpicked by the latter. The Spanish government established a commission “supervision, normalisation and representation” aimed at reforming the RFEF.
In September, the RFEF will hold presidential elections. If Rocha appeals the decision by TAD he will still be eligible to stand in those elections.
If Rocha is forced to leave his post, vice president María de los Ángeles García Chaves (37) will step in as interim president of the RFEF until the elections – the first time the Spanish federation will have been led by a woman.
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