The interim president in the Spanish Football Federation calls for elections, imminent resignation

Eight months after Luis Rubiales resigned as president of the Real Spanish Football Federation, the elections were called by interim president Pedro Rocha. Rocha, who was a former vice president under Rubiales, is a likely candidate.

Under severe pressure, Rocha will bring an end to his reign as acting president, but only temporarily as he hopes. The presidents must resign to present themselves as candidates in the elections. If there is a challenger, then he will run against them in early May.

This comes after the RFEF headquarters were raided two weeks ago in connection with a corruption probe, which saw seven people taken in for questioning, and five more placed under investigation, including Rubiales. The last one was welcomed for questioning upon his arrival in Spain from the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

It is not yet clear whether there will be a challenger, but the current elections were called in part because of protocol. Miguel Galan has filed a legal complaint against Rocha and the RFEF for exceeding the maximum time in office as interim management, and is seeking the disqualification of Rocha in these elections. The “real” election, as mentioned by Reliefwill be held in October of this year.

Part of the reason for that pressure is that UEFA and FIFA have become increasingly concerned by the repeated scandals in Spanish football, from the ongoing sexual assault case Corso Rubiales, to the corruption probe, to the case of corruption of Negreira. The RFEF is also a major part of the organization of the World Cup 2030. It is thought that part of the reason for the delay in the elections that are called is due to the failure of Rocha to gather the necessary support that he wants to be secured, before taking a real run at the position.