May 1 – Spanish football administration has taken yet another twist with former national team coach Vicente del Bosque appointed by the government to head a commission to oversee the country’s scandal-hit federation (RFEF) after a corruption and money laundering probe targeted both the current and former RFEF presidents.
Spain’s Higher Sports Council created the commission last week as an extraordinary measure for the coming months “in response to the crisis the institution is facing and in Spain’s national interests.”
FIFA and UEFA immediately issued a joint statement warning of third-party interference into Spain’s footballing affairs but it is hoped the appointment of Del Bosque – at least until fresh elections are held after the 2024 Paris Olympics end in August – may help the image of Spanish football. The country is set to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup with Portugal and Morocco.
“Del Bosque represents the best of our country in soccer,” Pilar Alegría, the minister representing Spain’s top sports authority, said. “He is our world champion, our European champion. He is a beloved man.”
The 73-year-old Del Bosque was Spain’s coach when they won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
As well as the latest corruption probe into the dealmaking around RFEF’s deal to host the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, Spain is still experiencing the fallout from the unsolicited kiss that disgraced former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales planted on women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso in Sydney last year.
The National Sports Council – the government agency responsible for sport – said the special committee was created as “a constructive response to the reputational crisis RFEF has been experiencing for some time”.
The RFEF is currently being run by Rubiales’ former number two Pedro Rocha, who had been serving as interim president since Rubiales quit in September and was last week confirmed as the RFEF president after running unopposed in elections.
Rocha is under investigation as part of the ongoing probe but has denied any wrong-doing. He has been Spain’s front man in the three country bid with Morocco and Portugal for the hosting of the 2030 World Cup.
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