Suspended Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Ángel María Villar "warned that government interference in Spanish football could cost the national team" its spot in next year's World Cup, according to Adriana Garcia of ESPN.com. FIFA confirmed that it "recently sent a letter to the RFEF raising concerns regarding the state of the country's federation" and reminding its member of its duty to "manage their affairs independently and ensure that their own affairs are not influenced by any third parties." Villar, who was suspended from his duties in July by Spain's Superior Sports Council (CSD) and is "currently on bail awaiting trial on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents," said on Monday, "The only ones responsible for the possibility that the national team could miss out on the World Cup is the current government. No one wants this, least of all me, but there are other national teams like Italy that missed out on the World Cup that will jump at the chance to take a World Cup spot [should Spain be banned]." Villar referred to the situation of Spanish football as "very grave" and said that the move by the CSD to suspend him was "arbitrary" and an "injustice" without giving him the "possibility of presumption of innocence." He added that "there have been cases in the past where federation presidents have not been suspended" by the CSD despite facing charges (ESPN.com, 12/18). In Barcelona, Roger Torelló reported CSD President José Ramón Lete said, "What we have is a request to meet with the government and Spain's sporting authorities, with the ministry and myself, and we are going to do so as soon as possible. It will be an informative meeting. This is all we know." Of Villar's comments, Lete said that he respects "his presumption of innocence and freedom of expression," but said that Villar's remarks "were mistaken." Lete: "The government acts with strict application of the law. ... I want to point out that all this follows a legal ruling" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 12/18).
