FIFA Threatens Spain’s Euro 2024 and World Cup 2030 Participation Amid Football Scandal

Spanish football has been living to the rhythm of a new scandal in recent weeks. The RFEF is the target of an investigation for corruption. Luis Rubiales and his interim president Pedro Rocha have been indicted. This affair has prompted the Spanish government to place the RFEF under trusteeship. "The Spanish government has taken this decision to remedy the serious situation of the RFEF and allow it to embark on a period of renewal in a climate of stability," explained the Higher Sports Council (CSD), a body dependent on the Ministry of Sports, on its website. Unexpectedly, Pedro Rocha was appointed president of the RFEF on Friday.

UEFA and FIFA are concerned about the situation.
In a joint statement, the two major football bodies say they are following "closely and with great concern the situation surrounding the RFEF. FIFA and UEFA will seek additional information to assess the extent to which the CSD’s appointment of the so-called ’Supervisory, Normalization and Representation Commission’ may affect the RFEF’s obligation to manage its affairs independently and without inappropriate government interference." According to Marca, it is not excluded that FIFA and UEFA will sanction Spain for political interference, as was the case with Peru, Chad, Guatemala, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe, who were excluded from international competitions for the same reasons.

The two major football bodies could therefore exclude La Roja from the next Euro to be held in Germany and exclude Spain from co-hosting the World Cup with Morocco and Portugal. Moreover, the World Cup must be ratified next December. According to FIFA and UEFA, Rodríguez Uribes, president of the Spanish Higher Sports Council, has betrayed their agreement in recent months, the Spanish newspaper reports.