The president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Pedro Rochahas been disqualified for 2 years by the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) for his management at the head of the Managing Committee of said organisation, according to the legal portal ‘iusport’ and Onda Cero Radio.
The TAD plenary would have partially accepted the proposal of the instructor of the case, the State Attorney Marina Adela Porta Serranowho initially proposed the disqualification of Rocha for up to 6 years for the alleged commission of three infractions considered “very serious” by the Sports Law.
The instructor’s proposal considered that Pedro Rocha had overstepped his functions by to dismiss the previous general secretary of the RFEF Andreu Camps and decide that the federation would appear as a plaintiff in the ‘Spanish Super Cup case’ that is being investigated in a court in Majadahonda (Madrid).
Likewise, the lawyer considered that the Extremaduran manager should not having terminated the RFEF’s contract with GC Legal. For each of these three very serious violations, the report proposed a sanction of two years’ disqualification from holding any position in any sports federation.
However, the TAD has only sanctioned him for the dismissal of the previous secretary general of the organisation, Andreu Camps, and imposed two fines of 16,500 euros each for the termination of the contract with GC Legal and the appearance as a private prosecutor in the ‘Supercopa’ case.
Pedro Rocha was appointed president of the RFEF on April 26. The disqualification, which can be appealed and is being studied by his lawyers, would prevent him from standing for re-election for the 2024-28 cycle, the process for which would begin on September 10 shortly following the Paris Olympic Games, from July 26 to August 11.
This ruling responds to the reasoned request of the president of the Higher Council of Sports (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, to initiate disciplinary proceedings once morest Pedro Rocha on March 27.
SPAIN COULD BE LEFT WITHOUT THE WORLD CUP
At the end of June, sources from the RFEF described the proposal to disqualify its president by the TAD in the middle of the European Football Championship in Germany as “unusual” and “irresponsible”, and warned of the risk that Spain might be left without the 2030 World Cup.
The RFEF recalled that FIFA has “repeatedly” expressed the possibility that Spain might be “left out of the organization” of the 2030 World Cup if there is “clear interference” by the Government in the RFEF, such as the possible disqualification of its “legitimate” president, elected last April.
