<p>The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is facing increasing scrutiny from FIFA and UEFA due to the ongoing leadership crisis that has engulfed the organization. The situation arose following the suspension of former RFEF president Pedro Rocha in July 2023. It has left the federation without a permanent leader for three months. With the end of the year approaching, soccer’s governing bodies are demanding swift action. Those bodies warned Spain of severe consequences if it fails to appoint a president.</p>



<p>Pedro Rocha took over leadership of the RFEF following the controversial tenure of Luis Rubiales. However, he found himself embroiled in allegations of misconduct, leading to his suspension by FIFA in July. The Spanish government has since stepped in to oversee the federation’s activities while searching for a long-term solution. However, as of October, the Spain FA has failed to name a new president. This prolonged leadership vacuum has drawn the ire of both FIFA and UEFA.</p>



<p>Garcia Silvero, FIFA’s legal director, has publicly confirmed that action will be taken if the RFEF fails to appoint a new president by the end of 2024. Speaking to&nbsp;<a href="https://as.com/futbol/mas_futbol/ultimatum-a-espana-o-hay-presidente-o-suspension-n/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diario AS</a>, Silvero stated that the global governing body is losing patience with the situation. As a result, it is prepared to take decisive measures to ensure the matter is resolved. According to Silvero, it will take action to address the delay if the federation does not resolve its leadership crisis within the specified time frame.</p>



<h2>Threats to Spanish clubs and national team</h2>



<p>One of the most alarming aspects of the ongoing saga is the potential fallout for Spanish soccer at both club and national levels. The report adds that FIFA and UEFA are ready to impose significant penalties on the RFEF. Among the most severe threats is the possibility of Spanish clubs being <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/european-ban-looms-over-la-liga-clubs-due-to-rfrf-president/">banned from participating in European competitions</a>. That includes the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.</p>



<p>This threat would be devastating for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-la-liga-on-us-tv-and-internet/">La Liga</a> teams. Many of those clubs rely on participation in these prestigious tournaments for both financial and competitive reasons. It would be detrimental to Spanish clubs’ finances and the reputation of Spanish soccer internationally to exclude them from tournaments.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241003_WST_533173_Spain-Euros-1200x675_8a6ed039.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-533229" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Spain-Euros-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Spain-Euros-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Spain-Euros-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Spain-Euros-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/10/Spain-Euros.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>In addition to the potential club-level penalties, the Spanish national team could also face repercussions. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/spain-national-team-tv-schedule/">Spain</a> risks exclusion from major international tournaments such as the European Championships and the UEFA Nations League if the RFEF does not comply with FIFA and UEFA’s demands. This would be a monumental blow to La Roja’s reputation, considering their long history of success at international tournaments.</p>



<h2>Spain’s 2030 World Cup in jeopardy</h2>



<p>Perhaps the most high-profile consequence of the RFEF’s ongoing instability is the potential loss of Spain’s hosting rights for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/can-more-than-one-country-host-the-fifa-world-cup-20231203-WST-471839.html">2030 World Cup</a>. Spain, along with Portugal and Morocco, is part of a joint effort to host the tournament. However, the unresolved issues within the federation have raised concerns among governing bodies. They may reconsider Spain’s role in hosting the event.</p>



<p>Losing the 2030 World Cup hosting rights would not only be a major blow to Spanish football. This extends to the country’s economy but also to the country’s economy. Major international sporting events typically bring substantial financial and tourism benefits. Spain’s possible removal from the bid could result in Morocco emerging as the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/morocco-pose-strong-2030-world-cup-final-host-threat-to-spain-20231022-WST-464016.html">primary host for the final</a>, a scenario that has already sparked speculation.</p>



<p>UEFA’s dissatisfaction with the RFEF’s situation is not a new development. Reports dating back to August 2023 suggested that UEFA was unhappy with the Spanish government’s political intervention in the FA’s affairs. According to UEFA’s rules, political interference in soccer governance is strictly illegal. It undermines the independence of national soccer associations.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Ultimatum presented to Spain FA amid possible European ban

The Spain FA is facing increasing scrutiny and a potential ban from international and European bodies from a leadership crisis.


<p>The <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/07/08/spain-germany-start-euro-2022-in-style/">Spain women’s team</a> saw a number of players resign recently due to problems with the squad’s coach.</p>



<p>Fifteen players sent a mass email to the national team late Thursday. The women cited mental health issues brought on by head coach Jorge Vilda. On Friday, the email went public.</p>



<p>In the statement, the players ask not to be involved with the team for the time being. “The general situation on the Spanish national team generated by recent events, events which (the federation) is aware of, is greatly affecting my emotional state and therefore my health,” each of the 15 players <a href="https:\/\/abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/spanish-womens-soccer-turmoil-player-revolt-90377090" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote</a>.</p>



<p>“Due to this, I presently do not consider myself to be a available for our national team and therefore ask to not be called up until this situation changes.”</p>



<p>While the Spanish FA says these players resigned, the 15 women contrast that. Instead, the players simply ask to withdraw their names from selection. That way, they can focus on their mental health. They want to return once the Spanish FA resolves the aforementioned situations.</p>



<p>Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas posted on social media the response to the Spanish FA.</p>



<p>In the excerpt, Putellas says the players never asked for the dismissal of the coach as mentioned.</p>



<p>“We understand that our job is in no case to choose such a position, but to express constructively and honestly what we consider can improve the group’s performance.”</p>



<p>“By requesting not to be summoned, we penalize our professional career, our economy and of course the continued effort to build something important in women’s soccer.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https:\/\/t.co/OwKIr3tWt3">pic.twitter.com/OwKIr3tWt3</a></p>— Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/alexiaputellas/status/1573350333417488385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h3>Fifteen players resign from Spain women’s team</h3>



<p>Guijarro appeared next to Paredes and forward Jennifer Hermoso at a press conference earlier this month. The trio voiced their concerns. Yet, they kept the issue more on actual match results. “It is a complicated moment,” claimed Paredes. “We are an ambitious team and we want to get better and win. We believe that various internal aspects (of the team) must improve.”</p>



<p>“There is a generalized discontentment among the team for what we went through at the end of the Eurocup,” said Guijarro. “We thought that we had a group that could win titles. We think that and feel that way. After the Eurocup, the group sent that message to our coach.”</p>



<p>None of the players mentioned their mental health in regard to Vilda’s actions at the press conference.</p>



<p>Head of women’s soccer in Spain Ana Alvarez backed Vilda. Alvarez claimed there are no reports of sexual or verbal abuse from the players. “Nothing like that has ever occurred (under Vilda),” Álvarez <a href="https:\/\/abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/spanish-womens-soccer-turmoil-player-revolt-90377090" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> on Cadena SER radio. “All of us are professionals and there has never been anything to taint that. Nothing of what you could be thinking has happened. That would be very serious.”</p>



<p>The Spanish women’s team hired Vilda in 2015. Prior to him, players demanded the resignation of his predecessor, Ignacio Quereda.</p>



<p>Spain next has two friendlies scheduled for October.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto</em></p>


After complaints over their head coach, 15 members of the Spain women's team elected to resign from their national team.

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Ultimatum presented to Spain FA amid possible European ban

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Spain women's team players resign over issues with head coach