Following the effect of Luis Rubiales’ resignation, the RFEF will implement its established procedures to transition leadership. If Rubiales steps down and is not disqualified under the federation’s statute, the vice-president will serve as interim head. The current president of the Extremadura Football Federation, Pedro Rocha, has been elected to assume the RFEF’s duties until new elections are scheduled. The plan involves requesting the CSD to push the electoral timeline into the first half of 2024 to resolve the interim situation promptly.
Luis Rubiales’ resignation proceeding in parliament this Friday
Rocha will oversee the board of directors, and historically, if a vacancy occurred in 2017, Angel Maria Villar Jorge Larrea, the RFEF treasurer, served on an interim basis. The Extremadura Federation president is among the RFEF’s vice presidents. Other notable figures listed as potential successors include Michael Bestard, a former president of the Balearic Federation; Antonio Suarez, from the Canary Islands; Maximino Martinez, from Asturias; Master Raphael, representing Navarre; Joan Soteras, from Catalonia; Salvador Gomar, from Valencia; Elvira Andres, former general secretary of the Spanish Basketball Federation; and Pablo Lozano, from Andalusia. These names reflect a broad regional representation within the federation’s leadership pool.
Who is Pedro Rocha?
The decision to elect Pedro Rocha as Rubiales’ successor came after a summit that included Rubiales and several regional leaders. Rocha has been a businessman since 1993 and operates three businesses. He has also spent multiple seasons as a futsal player in the Honors Division. He previously managed Cacereño and served on its technical staff, and he held the role of state delegate for the Extremadura Football Association in Cáceres. He is slated to take the chair in 2013, and his rise followed Rubiales’ ascent to leadership. Rocha was named vice-president under Rubiales, with others suggesting candidates based on seniority, including Bestard and Suarez. The talks emphasized unity within the federation during a time of transition, with some observers noting that Rocha’s appointment would solidify continuity while reforms were pursued. The possibility of changes in leadership was framed as a process that would be guided by the federation’s statutes and the upcoming elections. It was indicated that the 2024 Olympic cycle anchors much of the timeline, though it was also acknowledged that any future candidate for the top job would need to earn broad support within the membership and council.
The Vilda and De la Fuente case
Statutes of the RFEF outline that if a term is not completed, those who assumed vacancies will stay in their roles until the next regular elections. The councilors would not be replaced solely due to an election scenario. At the time, figures such as Luis Enrique were discussed as potential members of an extraordinary congress. It is noted that Luis de la Fuente, who coaches the men’s national team, and Jorge Vilda, who led the team to a World Cup victory, hold contracts extending to 2024. The female national team coach had been offered an extension but did not finalize negotiations. Government action through the CSD in TAD proceedings against Rubiales’ actions, including matters involving Jenni Hermoso, was expected to continue alongside these developments. The overarching framework remains focused on maintaining stability in the federation while evaluating leadership and policy directions through established processes and oversight.
[Citation: Federation statutes and governance records, contemporary federation leadership notes, and public statements from regional federations, with attribution to official documents.]