Pedro Rocha Appointed Spanish Football Federation President

Pedro Rocha has been appointed the new president of the Spanish Football Federation on Friday, following the resignation of former chief Luis Rubiales last September.

Rocha, who is currently under investigation in connection with a corruption case involving the federation, had been serving as interim president. He emerged as the sole candidate for the upcoming election scheduled for May. This week, the Spanish government decided to take charge of the scandal-plagued organisation “in responce to the federation’s crisis.”

“Pedro Rocha has today been proclaimed the new president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after having received the support of the majority of the assembly members of this institution that governs Spanish football,” read a statement from the federation. They later added: “This was agreed by the electoral commission, which met this morning.”

During the meeting of the Spanish government’s National Sports Council (CSD) on Thursday, a decision was made to establish a committee to supervise the federation. Rocha was not suspended as a result, enabling the RFEF to appoint the 69-year-old as president.

Spain’s primary sports tribunal had released a report stating that the RFEF, under Rocha’s interim leadership following Rubiales’ resignation, had made decisions that were “outside its authority” during that time. The sport court’s report prompted Thursday’s decision by the CSD to supervise the federation. FIFA and UEFA, the global and continental football governing bodies, jointly released a statement on Thursday expressing “significant concern” regarding the RFEF situation.

“FIFA and UEFA will seek additional information to assess the extent to which the CSD’s appointment (of the committee)… may affect the RFEF’s obligation to manage its affairs independently and without undue government interference,” they said.

FIFA previously announced that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host the men’s football World Cup in 2030. Additionally, three matches will be held in South America to commemorate the centenary of the inaugural tournament.

Former RFEF president Rubiales resigned from his position last year following global condemnation of his unwanted kiss on the lips of Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso. Both Rubiales, who is poised to stand trial, and his former vice-president Rocha are under investigation in the corruption inquiry.