January 16 – Yet another scandal is brewing at the Spanish FA (RFEF), this time involving its former president Angel Maria Villar, once one of the most influential figures in FIFA and UEFA who is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Villar is reportedly facing charges of fraud and corruption after an investigation into allegations that he favoured his son in some of his business dealings while at the head of the federation.
While there was no direct contractual relation between Villar and Gorka Villar, a sports lawyer who once worked for Conmebol, the latter was allegedly involved in Spain’s fixture selection and economic deals through his agency Sport Advisors.
It is claimed the RFEF was defrauded out of €4.5 million over the course of a decade between 2007 and 2017.
The minimum benefit obtained by Gorka Villar was allegedly €367,000 over that period, while Villar senior is claimed to have facilitated this by avoiding internal controls.
This is the latest scandal to besmirch the name of the RFEF following the removal of Luis Rubiales as President over the notorious ‘kissgate’ affair and controversy over his successors Pedro Rocha and Rafael Louzan.
The latter and present incumbent was found guilty in May 2022 of malfeasance in a case involving a contract to improve a football pitch in the city of Morana.
Although Louzan was cleared of fraud charges, the sentence barred him from holding public office for seven years. Louzan has denied wrongdoing and appealed, which allowed him to run for RFEF presidency. The Supreme Court is due to hear the appeal on February 5.
As for Villar Llona, back in 2017 he resigned from his executive roles at FIFA and UEFA amid corruption allegations.
The former Athletic Bilbao and Spain midfielder was arrested along with his son after police raided the RFEF headquarters in Madrid.
The most senior of eight vice-presidents behind Gianni Infantino, he relinquished that role as well as the vice presidency UEFA whilst always denying the allegations.
Two years earlier in 2015 he was fined and warned by FIFA’s ethics committee for failing to cooperate with the investigation into the bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.
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