The chairman of the board of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has signaled that elections for the federation presidency will be scheduled in the coming days. Sources from the federation, reported by El Periódico de España and the Prensa Ibérica group, confirm Rocha’s resolve to launch an electoral process within the first four months of the year, pending any new ministerial decree.
Experts and insiders caution that no strict deadline has been set, yet the window for action appears compact. The focus now shifts to the nature of the elections: will they be ordinary, yielding a four-year presidency, or extraordinary, reducing the term to end after the Paris Olympic Games? After the Olympics, fresh elections would proceed under sports law directives, a path that would shape the federation’s leadership for years to come.
We are waiting for the Ministry’s decision
Rocha had pledged months ago to extend his mandate only temporarily, at least through the first quarter of the year. The decision, backed by government support and the National Sports Council, rested on the ministerial decree regulating selection processes for all national sports federations having already received approval. This framework would allow early elections and a full four-year mandate to be set in motion.
Yet changes in the Ministry’s leadership and the bureaucratic hurdles typical of such processes have slowed progress. The government is awaiting action, with a State Attorney report reviewing the relevant opinion before issuing action on the decree.
Time is becoming a critical factor since no selection can occur once the European Cup begins (June 12). The election framework at RFEF must be prepared, the parliament must be convened, and the presidential vote must then take place, a sequence that demands careful timing and clear regulatory steps.
Some quick considerations
Rocha appears prepared to call for a swift electoral process, drawing on the precedent set when Luis Rubiales was elected almost four years ago. The individual who wins will assume full executive authority as head of the RFEF, with a term that could extend only up to the Olympics. The timing of the parliament that will elect the new president remains a key question as discussions progress.
As announced by the federation, Rocha will communicate the decision to the federation’s new president and leadership team. It is hoped that full elections can proceed as planned, contingent on the ministerial decree being published in the Official State Gazette. The interim leadership understands that the temporary period must end promptly, and it has faced criticism from voices arguing that it should not extend beyond necessity.
Galán’s complaint against Rocha
There had been expectations that a delay in approving the ministerial decree would push back the timing of early elections. Rocha remained at the helm of the federation’s executive until the Olympic Games. The timing of the decree is tied to a broader legal and administrative process, and observers note that the decision aligns with Miguel Galán’s complaint against Rocha and others in the federation’s management, which the CSD has referred to the TAD for review. The CENAFE president contends that Rocha violated the federation’s charter by failing to call an election promptly after Luis Rubiales stepped down. The TAD is expected to decide soon whether to open a case or reject the complaint; those close to Rocha anticipate the latter outcome as likely.