Three-time champions Spain could be barred from participating in Euro 2024 edition over government meddling in Spanish football association. FIFA and UEFA, football’s governing bodies, have asked Spanish football association (REEF) about the involvement of government in daily work. The country could also lose its 2030 FIFA World Cup hosting rights as well.
According to the news outlet the Sun, Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Uribes, the president of Spain’s Supreme Sports Council, has sent a letter to both, UEFA and FIFA, explaining role of government in Spanish FA’s working.
The governing football bodies, however, haven’t responded kindly to Rodriguez-Uribes’ explanation and have asked some questions:
- On what legal and /or factual basis was the Commission appointed?
- Who makes up the Commission and who appointed its members?
- What is the Commission’s exact mandate?
- What powers does the Commission have?
- What relationship does the Commission have with the statutory decision-making bodies in the RFEF?
Failing to get a satisfactory answers, Spain could lose on its participation in the upcoming Euro 2024. The tournament is scheduled to be played in Germany from June 15. The month-long tournament has Spain in Group B alongside Italy, Croatia, and Albania.
Furthermore, Spanish football league LaLiga clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona could also be banned from taking part in next year’s Champions League as cascading affect.
The government started to take part in football association’s functions after Luis Rubiales’ infamous kiss scandal in 2023 Women’s World Cup. Rubiales, 46, had resigned following global outrage after he forcibly kissed Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso last summer after the final.
He subsequently has also been facing probe regarding financial irregularities during his time in chare which saw Spanish Super Cup being transferred to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
It returned to Spain for a year during the Covid-19 pandemic but the subsequent three editions have returned to the oil-rich Gulf state.
