By Paul Nicholson
July 19 – Spanish federation president (RFEF) Angel Maria Villar-Llona has come under renewed attack at home from presidential rival Jorge Pérez who says that he has woven a system of patronage and fear into Spanish football that has kept him in position.
Villar Llona already faces a lawsuit in the Court of Instruction of Majadahonda on charges of electoral manipulation and breaking Spanish sports law brought by another candidate for the federation presidency, Miguel Angel Galan.
Galan’s lawsuit alleges Villar Llona has deliberately delayed the electoral process and in doing so has violated a ministerial order that is enshrined in Spanish law. He calls for Villar Llona to be disqualified from public office and to be banned from standing for election – which under this rule has a disqualification period of nine to 15 years.
In an interview with Spain’s AS, Pérez does not go as far in his demands but is unequivocal in his statements that the electoral system has been changed (the voting Assembly has been reduced in number from 180 to 140) in a way that advantages Villar-llona.
“They have woven a patronage system for many years. And they have done many good things, do not say no. But that model is exhausted,” said Pérez.
In what has become a familiar issue in elections throughout football’s major governing institutions, Pérez says that the vote must be a secret ballot and conducted electronically.
“I want people to vote without fear of reprisal,” he said.
Spanish football is going though a period of soul-searching following its European Cup knock-out in the round of 16. While its two great clubs – Barcelona and Real Madrid – sit astride the club game worldwide, its national team has faded. Much of the national team failure is being laid at the door of Villar-Llona and the disconnect between the federation and La Liga.
Pérez said: “What makes no sense is that there is no relationship between Laliga and the Federation…LaLiga has grown so much that they can help us more than we need them. So if I am president there will be full cooperation.”
But asked whether he was the candidate for the professional game, he replied: “What I want is to support everyone, professional football, women, II, II B, referees … I want to be the candidate for everyone.”
On Villar-Llona’s UEFA ambitions, Pérez was perhaps understandably encouraging, saying that he already spends most of his time on UEFA and FIFA business than he does on the Spanish federation. Villar-Llona has still to officially announce his UEFA presidential candidacy (he is currently interim president), but failed to win the endorsement of UEFA’s executive committee last week.
Asked why the RFEF had lost so many sponsorships, Pérez was even more damning of the Villar-Llona regime. “It’s very serious, €30 million less in recent years,” he told AS.
“I think it’s carelessness, inattention, not to answer the sponsors and even not answer when they wanted to do an activation. The current organization is a mess, a mess. I want to clearly separate the economic and sporting side.”
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