Spain are in danger of being
thrown out of the World Cup on Friday over alleged government interference in
its football association.
Fifa wrote to the Royal Spanish Football
Federation (RFEF) warning it would be in breach of the world governing body’s
statutes if the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), the Spanish government’s
national sports council, forced it to stage a presidential election following
the arrest and suspension of Angel Maria Villar Llona.
The letter followed a complaint allegedly
lodged by Villar Llona himself, who resigned as the senior vice-president of
Fifa and vice-president of Uefa following his arrest in July but who is still
de facto president of the RFEF despite pressure from the CSD for the federation
to elect a successor. Fifa confirmed on Friday its letter expressed “concern”
about the situation and reminded the RFEF it must manage its own affairs
independently of third-party interference.
Any member association which fails to do so
can be suspended, causing its national team to be banned from playing. Spain
were previously at risk of being thrown out of the 2008 European Championship –
the first of their hat-trick of major tournament triumphs – also over alleged
government interference in RFEF electoral business.
Fifa and acting RFEF president Juan Luis
Larrea both confirmed on Friday talks would take place over the controversy
after Christmas. Larrea told AS: “The meeting will be informative and, in no
case, punitive. No-one is going to take Spain out of the World Cup. It’s
impossible and never been talked about. It’s the final straw when people say
things like that.
“It won’t happen. What do these people want:
that Spain are withdrawn from the tournament so Italy can get in? “The
federation is functioning normally, the national team earned their place on the
pitch, and Fifa agree with us on that.”
Villar Llona, who was acting president of Uefa
prior to Aleksander Ceferin’s election last year, was arrested in July on
charges of corruption over alleged misuse of RFEF finances to help secure his
own re-election. He denies any wrongdoing.
Fifa has previously suspended national
associations over government interference, last week lifting one such ban on
Kuwait.
source: Telegraph Uk
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