SEAT belt up for a Spain’s Russia 2018 journey
March 29 – Spanish car maker SEAT has expanded its sponsorship with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to encompass the men’s national team at the 2018 Russia World Cup.
Tag: Spain
Spanish prosecutors hunt Xabi Alonso, calling for €4m tax repayment and 5-year jail term
March 22 – The crackdown by Spanish authorities to prevent elite footballers getting even richer by beating the tax system has struck again, with former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso facing a possible five-year jail term after being accused of fraud.
Calm after the storm. LaLiga reports quiet betting markets after 32 matchfixing arrests
By Paul Nicholson
February 26 – The first weekend of football in Spain’s leagues after the dramatic arrests of 32 suspected matchfixers last week has seen a welcome return to normality in the Spanish football betting markets. LaLiga head of integrity Alfredo Lorenzo, said that the “from the intelligence we have on Segunda B and the Third Division, it is completely flat.”
Spanish police arrest 20 in raids on suspected matchfixers across country
February 20 – The scourge of matchfixing has reared its ugly head in Spain yet again with a spate of arrests relating to alleged rigging in the country’s lower leagues.
Spanish prosecutors reopen Levante vs Zaragoza matchfixing case demanding jail terms
By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – Several years after the incident first hit the headlines, Spanish prosecutors have dramatically reopened a case against 41 individuals, including 36 players, over alleged matchfixing relating to a top-flight survival decider between Levante and Real Zaragoza.
Spanish FA set April date for vote on Villar’s successor
February 13 – Just days after a FIFA delegation led by secretary general Fatma Samoura, met with Spanish officials to discuss concerns about government interference in the aftermath of veteran powerbroker Angel Villar’s demise, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) announced it is finally holding elections in April to select Villar’s replacement.
Sanchez agrees £1.42m deal with Spanish courts but still handed prison sentence
February 9 – New Manchester United recruit Alexis Sanchez has “accepted” a prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain, according to his agent, though he won’t have to serve jail time. The Sanchez camp described the settlement as “entirely unjust”, forcing Sanchez and other players into a deal with the tax authorities in Spain.
LaLiga confirm integrity director Lorenzo Mena to attend Tackling Matchfixing conference
February 8 – LaLiga’s Integrity and Security director Alfredo Lorenzo Mena has confirmed he will be speaking at the Tackling Matchfixing conference in London, March 9-10. He will join a panel examining what Europe’s biggest leagues are doing to combat and defend themselves against match fixers.
Out in the cold: Rosell suffers in prison in freezing conditions and near solitary confinement
February 8 – How are the mighty fallen. As a former president of Barcelona and a key figure in the European Clubs Association, Sandro Rosell was used to the high life. Not any longer.
FIFA sends mission to Spain to discuss life post-Villar and government interference
By Andrew Warshaw
February 6 – Pressure is mounting on Spanish authorities to sort out the aftermath of veteran powerbroker Angel Villar’s demise after yet another intervention by FIFA.
No cold comfort for Rosell as Spanish keep his assets frozen
February 5 – Once one of the most influential figures in European football, playing a prominent role in the European Club Association and representing that body on various UEFA and FIFA committees, former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell continues to have his assets frozen in Spain.
Spanish police nab Pina, chief of high flying La Liga 2 club Cadiz
February 1 – The managing director of Spanish second-tier side Cadiz has been arrested in relation to a money-laundering investigation, sources close to the operation told AFP.
Exclusive: Spanish turn blind eye as match-fixing rips through lower leagues
By Paul Nicholson
December 21 – Spanish football’s lower divisions are showing a disturbing level of betting-related fixed matches. What is more concerning is that neither the Spanish federation (RFEF) or LaLiga are showing any signs of taking action to stop the match-fixers, clubs or players, despite having been made aware of the issues.
Villar says risk of Spain losing Russia 2018 spot is ‘serious’, blames government
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Disgraced former FIFA and UEFA powerbroker Ángel María Villar has stoked up fears of his native Spain being barred from the World Cup as he tries to cling on to his role as head of his national federation (RFEF).
Russia 2018 spot on the line? FIFA warns Spanish government to keep out of football
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – It’s an unthinkable scenario but Spain’s participation in next year’s World Cup could technically be under threat if the Spanish government meddles in the election of a replacement for disgraced Spanish FA (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar, the former FIFA and UEFA bigwig who was forced to relinquish his posts over corruption charges.