Pedro Rocha proclaimed president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation – International

Announcement comes one day after the Spanish government’s decision to place the entity under supervision

Pedro Rocha was proclaimed president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after receiving the support of the majority of members of the assembly, the organization announced this Friday on its official website.

The announcement comes one day after the Spanish government’s decision to place under supervision the RFEF, in crisis since the scandal of the kiss forced on Jenni Hermoso by then president Luis Rubiales, who Pedro Rocha replaced on an interim basis in August 2023.

A commission created by the Superior Sports Council (CSD), a body dependent on the Ministry of Sports, will supervise the RFEF over the next few months, in the “interest of Spain”, co-organizer of the World Cup 2030 together with Portugal and Morocco.

FIFA and UEFA also guaranteed that they will evaluate whether the creation of this supervision, standardization and representation commission, by the Spanish government, could jeopardize the independence of the RFEF.

Shaken by the scandal of the forced kiss of world champion Jenni Hermoso after the ‘roja’ world title in August 2023, which led to Rubiales’ dismissal, the RFEF is now at the center of a corruption investigation in which Pedro Rocha is indicted.

This case concerns irregularities in contracts signed by the RFEF over the last five years, during the presidency of Luis Rubiales, including the lucrative contract signed to transfer the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

Pedro Rocha was the only candidate in the elections for the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which is why he was proclaimed winner.

The election was initially scheduled for May 6, if there was more than one candidate.

In accordance with the electoral regulations in Spanish sports federations and the RFEF electoral regulations, the Electoral Commission proceeded with the direct proclamation of the candidate, who will take office immediately.

By Lusa