understand everything about the government placing the Spanish Federation under supervision

The Spanish Sports Council announced on Thursday the placing under supervision of the RFEF, at the heart of a vast investigation for corruption, just a few months after the scandal of the forced kiss of Luis Rubiales.

The government of Pedro Sanchez announced, Thursday April 25, the placing under supervision of the Spanish Football Federation, whose staff is the subject of an investigation for corruption, for “redress the serious situation in which the RFEF finds itself”In “the interest of Spain”organizer of the 2030 World Cup jointly with Portugal and Morocco.

An unprecedented decision which testifies to the serious crisis that Spanish football is going through, already at the heart of controversies in the summer of 2023 after the forced kiss of Luis Rubiales to Jenni Hermoso.

What does this placement under supervision mean?

The RFEF will be placed under supervision “during the next few months” by a commission created by the Superior Sports Council (CSD), an autonomous body responsible for implementing national sports policy. It is attached to the Spanish Ministry of Education, Professional Training and Sports, but has more freedom from the government than the French Ministry of Sports.

This commission of “supervision, standardization and representation” will be led by “independent personalities”, in charge of supervising the RFEF. According to the Spanish press, former coach Vicente del Bosque, world champion in 2010, should be part of it. The powers of this joint commission remain to be defined, because sports federations must be independent of their governments.

Why such a decision ?

The Spanish government took this radical decision following a vast corruption investigation – named Operation Brodie – in which Luis Rubiales, resigned former president of the RFEF also accused of sexual assault on Jenni Hermoso, and his successor (and former right arm) Pedro Rocha are indicted.

This case concerns irregularities in the contracts signed by the Spanish federation over the last five years, in particular the conditions under which the Spanish Super Cup was relocated to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) estimated in a recent report that Pedro Rocha, current president of the federation, and his interim management had committed “very serious” errors by making decisions going beyond their temporary agency skills, like that of the extension of the contract of coach Luis De La Fuente. It was this report that led to the decision taken on Thursday.

What risks for the future of Spanish football?

The placing under supervision of the RFEF breaks with the principle of autonomy and non-interference of governments within the federations enshrined in the statutes of FIFA and UEFA. In a joint statement, the two authorities indicated that they were following “closely and with great concern the situation surrounding the Spanish federation“, to ensure that this commission does not affect “his independence”.

Only they are normally able to intervene in the internal affairs of federations, as when FIFA suspended Luis Rubiales because of his forced kiss of Jenni Hermoso. Failure to respect this principle may result in sanctions including the exclusion of all Spanish teams, selections and clubs from European and international competitions.

The Superior Sports Council, however, remains calm and assures that it has kept FIFA informed of all its efforts as they progress. The Spanish government would even have appreciated if the two authorities themselves intervened beforehand, so as not to leave at the head of the Spanish federation individuals indicted for corruption, unfair administration and membership in a criminal organization.

By not suspending Pedro Rocha and his entire interim leadership, the CSD did not create a “vacuum” at the head of the federation and even let the replacement of Luis Rubiales be designated during an almost electoral process. ‘achieved. So many arguments that the supervisory committee will have to put forward to FIFA and UEFA, who have planned to request clarification on the legal basis allowing it to place itself above any leader of the the federation, including its president.

Towards a conflict between the government and the federation?

The day after this placement under supervision, the Spanish federation appointed Pedro Rocha as new president on Friday, for a mandate running until next September. The one who was until then interim president, after the departure of Luis Rubiales, was the only candidate in the presidential election, which was initially to be held on May 6 if several people had presented themselves.

Indicted in the corruption affair which is shaking the federation, Pedro Rocha could not have been suspended at the time of the supervision by the CSD, since he was only a candidate for his own succession, without an official role in the RFEF organization chart.

However, the Superior Sports Council could still decide to suspend him and the other members of the interim management commission next Tuesday, during a vote. All of them are still under investigation opened by the Administrative Sports Tribunal and the creation of the supervisory commission would make their suspension easier, since this other body would be able to take over.