RFEF elections are like this: Rocha works in the shadows, regional elections are fragmented and CSD watches

Extremadura’s president sets mechanisms in motion by chairing management committee awaiting approval of ministerial order To determine the date of the federation elections. The government should hold elections in the first quarter of 2024, even if it is in the first quarter. Víctor Francos, president of the CSD since June 2023 and who will be confirmed as a strong man in the field of sports in the new administration, wants to resolve this issue quickly.

Controversial ministerial order

Legally, as football is an Olympic federation, elections must be held in the second half of 2024, that is, after the Olympic event is held in Paris, but the Government has warned that its idea is for it to be held as soon as possible. and has the authority to Advance at RFEF. The football world hopes the Government will invoke a ministerial order to set the election date; This will happen in the coming weeks. Even knowing that there is a risk of an objection to this decision, this will further delay the holding of elections until the next judicial decision is issued.

While the ministry order is coming, there is great activity behind the scenes. Start date: Pedro Rocha, who discreetly met with the regional presidents and tried to garner the support of them all, under the pretext of “continuing to manage football in the face of the possible threat of external candidates”. that they can run for office when elections are called. But, The power of 19 regional federations will be fragmented because the Valencian Salvador Gomar, as he explained, will present himself as an alternative to Rocha, which confirms the Government’s suspicions that there is no unanimity among the regional ones. This greatly opens the stage for other candidates.

Gomar breaks regional consensus

The government always used the hypothesis that the man is the one to trust. rubiales there was no unanimous support in the autonomous federations, Although it tries to negotiate with each region separately with its own vote in exchange for certain ‘favors’. As chairman of the management company, Rocha can immediately call ‘presidential’ elections, but the same parliament will be maintained and he will then have to call further federal elections in the second quarter of 2024 to create a new parliament. He would now be president for the next four years. Therefore, the possibility of Rocha taking up this option is ruled out. The government does not want this either.

During this long wait, Receiving good advice from within the RFEF, Rocha preferred to keep a low profile by not giving interviews to avoid misinterpretations and devoted himself to building bridges. The most obvious of these is the improved relationship with LaLiga; Javier Tebas’ team is pleasantly surprised by the rapprochement with Rubiales in recent weeks after years of civil war. In the Women’s Union, chaired by Beatriz Álvarez, they also celebrate Rocha’s attitude towards the open war that Rubiales proposes to them.

In the field of women’s football, Rocha complies with the decisions promised by Víctor Francos in his meeting with the players in the so-called ‘Oliva Pact’. In the case of the man, he merely waits for justice to take action through the reporting process. Jenni Hermoso The case against Luis Rubiales, which currently has four defendants, including federation staff.

Other shadow candidates

While Rocha buys time to organize the RFEF and distance himself from Rubiales, cautious moves are taking place as he waits for the election date to be made public. Salvador Gomar He was the first to speak: “I’m clear, yes. If there’s nothing to tell me no, yes. “When the elections come, I will be a candidate for RFEF.” He hopes with interest that someone will emerge who will be supported by Florentino Pérez, at least as the RFEF and even the CSD suspect.

There is also talk of the option of a candidate presenting himself in the corridors who will receive the approval of the Government. And recurring unconfirmed names appear, such as AFE’s president David Aganzo, Valladolid’s former president Carlos Suárez, the unexpected candidacy of Mateu Alemany… Not to mention even stranger ones like the previous one. referee Mateu Lahoz or journalist Carlos Herrera.