Barcelona and Real Madrid presidents Joan Laporta and Florentino Perez ‘resign from Spanish FA board’ ahead of the campaign to elect a successor to ousted president Luis Rubiales
- The leaders of Barcelona and Real Madrid submitted letters to resign from the board
- Both resignations come as the Spanish Football Federation prepares for presidential elections
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The presidents of Barcelona and Real Madrid, Joan Laporta and Florentino Perez, have reportedly resigned from their positions on the board of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) ahead of the presidential elections.
The RFEF is currently run by a management committee led by interim president Pedro Rocha, following the resignation of Luis Rubiales in September.
Rubiales resigned after coming under increasing pressure for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips without consent following Spain’s Women’s World Cup win over England in August.
The 46-year-old has since been handed a three-year ban by FIFA and remains under criminal investigation in Spain, while he denies wrongdoing.
A date has yet to be set for the RFEF to hold its presidential elections, although the vote is expected to take place in early 2024.
Florentino Perez, left, and Joan Laporta, right, have reportedly resigned from RFEF’s board
RFEF has been led by a management committee since the resignation of Luis Rubiales as president
Pedro Rocha was interim chairman of the commission in the run-up to new elections
As reported by El confidentialLaporta and Perez have submitted their resignations to the management committee.
The presidents of Spain’s two biggest clubs submitted letters confirming their decision to resign, claiming it was their decision not to “interfere in the electoral process.”
The president of CENAFE, Spain’s national school for football coaches, Miguel Angel Galan, has claimed that the dismissal may be in response to a legal complaint he filed against the management committee.
Galan filed a complaint in September, insisting that the committee was obliged under the RFEF’s statutes to immediately call elections after Rubiales’ resignation.
His complaint has since been referred to the Spanish Administrative Sports Court, but a ruling has yet to be made.
“I believe that the legal services of Real Madrid and Barcelona advised their presidents to resign when they received my burofax,” Galan told El Confidencial.
‘In which I warned them that failure to hold elections for the presidency of the RFEF, and therefore failure to comply with the statutes, could lead to a possible crime of administrative fraud.
“In this way, I have a free hand to file a criminal complaint for this alleged crime against Pedro Rocha and the 26 members of his management committee.”
Rocha represented the RFEF in a meeting with Morocco and Portugal during the 2030 World Cup
The RFEF has faced turmoil since Rubiales was forced to resign after kissing Jenni Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup in August
Spain’s Supreme Council for Sport is reportedly in the process of drawing up election rules ahead of a campaign, with the management committee led by Rocha temporarily in charge.
Rocha was RFEF’s representative at a meeting with Moroccan and Portuguese officials last month, during which the three countries confirmed their joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA confirmed that the bid is the only contender to host the tournament.
The dismissals of Perez and Laporta continue the turbulence in the RFEF since the Women’s World Cup final, where Spain defeated England 1-0 in Australia.
RFEF general secretary Andreu Camps was fired in September as part of an agreement with women’s national team players to avoid a boycott of their Nations League matches.
The organization had committed to a restructuring as part of the agreement with players.
Director of Integrity Miguel Garcia Caba and communications director Pablo Garcia Cuervo have now left the RFEF.
