2026 World Cup bids: Morocco to join with Spain and Portugal?
March 1 – Morocco is reportedly considering a new strategy to challenge north America for the 2026 World Cup, almost certainly the first edition to involve 48 teams.
Tag: Spain
29-year veteran Villar faces Spanish vote in May
By Andrew Warshaw
February 14 – The domestic future of long-time FIFA powerbroker Angel Maria Villar will finally be decided on May 22 – meaning he will not have to suffer any embarrassment before the FIFA Congress a few days earlier.
WADA raises alarm bells over lack of Spanish doping controls
February 13 – World anti-doping officials have expressed their alarm at the lack of drug testing in Spanish football, saying there have been no tests carried out for the last 11 months.
Real Madrid line-up €500m internet rights sale
February 8 – In what looks likely to be the first deal of its kind for one of Europe’s big clubs, Real Madrid is poised to sell its internet image rights for 10 years to US investment Providence Equity Partners for €500 million.
Valencia lose Kempes after ‘lost’ tweet over 4-0 loss
February 6 – Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes has been sacked from his ambassadorial role with Spain’s Valencia for fiercely criticising the team after their 4-0 thrashing at home to Eibar.
How legends are made: You can keep the €4m payoff, says Fernandez
January 18 – Money can’t buy you love, sang the Beatles, but turning it down might do just that. Yaya Toure will have endeared himself even more to Manchester City fans for turning down a reported $430,000 a week salary offer from China. Sporting Gijon coach Abelardo Fernandez has taken gone a step further.
Villar still riding his Spanish corruption storm with elections now likely in April
By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – The postponed elections for the presidency of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) now look set to take place in April after reports that controversial current president Angel Maria Villar has found common ground in disputes with the Spanish sports ministry and its new Secretary of State for Sports, Jose Ramon Lete.
Barca discover America and explore launch of a pro-women’s team
December 23 – FC Barcelona, part of a multi-pronged Spanish football assault force on the commercial opportunities provided by the US market, have said they are looking to set up a professional women’s team in the country and are in discussion with the US Soccer Federation (USSF) to do so.
LaLiga cuts new global sponsor deal with Stihl
December 1 – Spain’s LaLiga has added another new global sponsor. Although no amount was announced for the deal, La Liga said it now expected to earn €70 million from sponsorship this year, more than double its annual sales of previous years.
Above criticism? Barca take Tebas to TAS over player conduct comments
October 28 – Barcelona have reported La Liga president Javier Tebas to Spain’s highest sports court, the Administrative Court of Sport (TAS), after he questioned their players’ conduct in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Valencia when Lionel Messi scored a stoppage-time penalty.
Tebas re-elected to lead Spain’s La Liga for second term
October 12 – Outspoken Spanish league president Javier Tebas, who has refused to condemn third party ownership despite widespread opposition to the practise, has been handed a second four-year term.
Pique not feeling the love, saying he will end his Spanish career at Russia 2018
October 10 – Spanish international defender Gerard Piqué says the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be his final tournament with the national team because he feels he is no longer wanted.
Villar quits UEFA presidential race leaving Ceferin and van Praag in final run-off
By Andrew Warshaw
September 7 – And then there were two. Angel Maria Villar, whose UEFA presidential candidacy always seemed destined to fail, has pulled out of the election next week to save face, leaving Michael van Praag and Alexander Ceferin to battle it out to fill the vacancy left by Michel Platini.
Real to continue court battle against EC demand to pay €18.4m penalty
August 31 – Real Madrid say they will now continue with their appeal to European Court of Justice over the order to reimburse the Madrid City Council €18.4 million, despite losing their first appeal to the European Commission (EC).
Villar’s UEFA manifesto promises governance, equal opportunity and ‘protection’
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – Three weeks before the eagerly awaited UEFA presidential election to replace Michel Platini, Spanish football boss Angel Maria Villar has become the last of the three candidates to unveil his manifesto, promising democracy and transparency if he clinches victory on September 14.