The Royal Spanish Football Federation moved to act after FIFA disqualified Luis Rubiales, preventing him from continuing as the federation’s president. Pedro Rocha, the Extremadura federation leader who had earned broad agreement within the RFEF, prepared to take charge. A meeting was planned for Monday, described as extraordinary and urgent, with regional presidents to assess the situation and map out the next steps.
Relating to
- Vilda rejected Rubiales and expressed regret over what he called inappropriate conduct and the harm it caused to the team’s performance.
- Luis de la Fuente criticized Rubiales for misbehavior in the World Cup final and stressed accountability.
Withdrawal of testimony against Hermoso
The meeting was scheduled for 16:00 on the first call and 16:15 on the second. It would convene at the RFEF headquarters in Las Rozas and focus on two items: an analysis and assessment of the current situation and decisions or actions to be taken, followed by questions and answers for those present.
Pedro Rocha, now the interim head of the federation, has already shown a propensity to keep his authority steady during this period. He recently approved the withdrawal of a statement in which the federation was accused of labeling a player a liar and a kidnapper.
Vilda also turns her back on Rubiales: regrets her “inappropriate behavior” and the damage done to the team’s success
JMC
Who is Pedro Rocha?
Pedro Rocha has led the Extremadura Football Federation for a decade and serves as the interim head of the national federation. His steady approach on the board has earned him strong support from regional presidents who appear to back him with broad consensus. Rocha is noted as the only vice president who did not resign during the crisis involving Rubiales, and within his circle he is quoted as saying that defending the institution’s interests remains the top priority.
The instrumentalization of Rubiales
FIFA reported that Rubiales was suspended from all football-related activities for 90 days. Even after the suspension, statements from the federation appeared to show an effort to preserve authority despite the central leadership being unable to act publicly. Regional managers have followed the conflict closely and attended meetings expecting Rubiales to resign, something that did not occur. Instead, the gathering seemed to be used as an assertion of self-identity rather than a change in leadership.
As discussions unfolded, it became clear that the regional managers anticipated a resignation that did not materialize. The situation has underscored the friction between the federation’s leadership and the regional bodies, with each side seeking to influence the direction of Spanish football during this unsettled period.