Election processes for the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are currently in the hands of the State Prosecutor’s Office. The government awaits a formal report from this authority before initiating any operational steps. A ministerial order is expected to regulate how the federation would appoint a new president to replace Luis Rubiales, who resigned on September 10 after a widely criticized kiss with Jenni Hermoso.
The Supreme Sports Council (CSD) clarified that this final procedural step is necessary to activate the selection mechanism and that it could also influence other national Olympic sports federations. In principle, football would be treated in line with the same framework, with selections anticipated later this year following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The government filed a complaint with the TAD against Rubiales’ replacement, Pedro Rocha
The CSD is obligated to publish a report on its draft. Once the government receives it, the general technical secretariat of the governing body of Spanish sport will assess the text in preparation for final publication in the Official State Gazette.
A protracted process
The final publication of the ministerial decree is taking longer than anticipated by the CSD. Victor Francos, speaking for the organization, noted that the government released the draft for public information on October 11 so that interested parties could submit their contributions.
Francos remained optimistic that bureaucratic hurdles could be cleared, with hopes of reaching conclusion by late November or early December. The CSD has explained that the sheer volume of contributions, exceeding 1,400 pages, has slowed the process considerably.
“Both accepted and rejected proposals require justification and inclusion in a formal report. That is why analysis time grows with the large number of comments,” the government stated during that period.
RFEF elections are shaped by a shadowy process, while regional elections remain fragmented and the CSD monitors
Once the review is completed, the Sports Administrative Court, which oversees election matters, will prepare a mandatory report under the current legal framework. This report is in the government’s possession and awaiting publication by the Attorney General’s Office.
Power changes in the CSD
The CSD has not committed to deadlines, but officials expect the procedures to finish soon. It will then be necessary to observe how many changes occur to the original text. It is worth noting that the ministerial leadership is at the forefront of the process. Political figures such as Michael Iceta and Victor Francos, alongside Pilar Alegría and José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, may influence potential shifts tied to changes in the government’s sports leadership.
After the ministerial decree is finalized, a self-selection regulation will need to align with the government’s text. The CSD had predicted that a new federation president could be elected around April, though any delays in the decree could push those timelines out. The possibility that elections might occur after the Olympic Games cannot be ruled out, which could extend Rubiales’ tenure temporarily.
All of this unfolds while the future decision of the TAB looms. Pedro Rocha, head of the RFEF executive committee, has chosen not to call elections immediately after Rubiales’ resignation. Earlier this week the CSD filed a complaint with the TAD regarding Miguel Ángel Galán, a move seen as part of government-led efforts to advance the process in line with the TAD’s feedback and prior actions by Francos.
In short, the governance of Spanish football is navigating a maze of procedural steps, legal reviews, and political considerations, with each party awaiting the next formal milestone before advancing toward a new leadership for the federation.