Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Ángel María Villar and his son, former CONMEBOL exec Gorka Villar, and three other men "have been arrested as part of a corruption investigation," according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com. A spokesperson for Spain's Guardia Civil said that police agents raided the RFEF's offices early Tuesday "as part of an investigation into its finances." The office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption said that it suspects Villar, who is FIFA's senior VP and a UEFA VP, of "having arranged matches for Spain's national team that led to business deals that benefited his son." The other three men arrested were RFEF VP of Economic Affairs Juan Padrón and the president and secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife. Police said that the five men were arrested "on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations." The raids were carried out by the Guardia Civil's anti-corruption unit as part of an operation called "Soule." Spanish Minister of Education, Culture & Sport Íñigo Méndez de Vigo said, "In Spain, the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law." UEFA said in a statement that it is "aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time." The investigation is reportedly being overseen by Spanish National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz and is "looking into alleged use of RFEF money to secure support" from Spain's regional federations for Villar's recent re-election for an eighth consecutive term as federation president. Villar became president of the RFEF in '88. His seven terms as RFEF president "have brought regular allegations of a lack of transparency" within the RFEF's finances and decision-making processes. A "number of court cases have been brought over the years, but no charges ever stuck" (
ESPN.com, 7/18). BLOOMBERG's Orihuela, Montijano & Panja reported the probe into Villar "brings fresh trauma for the sport in Spain seven years after the national side won the World Cup in South Africa." Lionel Messi was handed a suspended 21-month jail term last year for unpaid taxes linked to image rights and Cristiano Ronaldo "also faces accusations" he has not paid "all that he owes in Spanish taxes." Neither Villar nor anyone else at the RFEF was "immediately available for comment when contacted by phone." A FIFA spokesperson "referred comment back to the Spanish federation." The arrest of Villar, "one of the most senior officials" in global football, is "likely to renew scrutiny of FIFA" (
BLOOMBERG, 7/18).
LATEST CONTROVERSY: EL PAÍS reported Tuesday's raid by the authorities "follows other investigations into Villar, including one related to money that was supposed to be spent on a football school in Haiti." After keeping "the majority of the money for that project," the RFEF in January returned the €1.2M in public funding that it had received in '10. Villar provided testimony related to that case on July 6 (EL PAÍS, 7/18).
RFEF IN CHAOS: MARCA reported the arrest of Villar "sparked chaos at the federation." Joan Gaspart, the former Barcelona president and the RFEF's current VP of int'l & institutional matters, "could be the man to fill in for the detained Villar for the time being." RFEF General Secretary Esther Vascon "is another option to take on the temporary role." Gaspart defended Villar, saying, "I believe in justice, which can be slow but sure, and it wouldn't be the first time that this ends in nothing." Gaspart added, "I don't have a clue what happened. I have only helped Villar with UEFA and FIFA contacts, but nothing more" (MARCA, 7/18). In Madrid, Sergio Fernández reported La Liga President Javier Tebas said, "Without transparency and without governance regulations, institutions always end up damaged. Since 15 years ago, I have been saying what was happening at the RFEF. And we will see what happens, we have to let the investigation continue" (MARCA, 7/18). MARCA also reported the RFEF announced that the draw of the '17-18 La Liga calendar, due to be held on Thursday, "will be postponed until further notice." La Liga, however, intends to "carry out the fixture announcement as planned" (MARCA, 7/18).
