Spain’s place in 2018 World Cup a threat over ‘Villar Case’

The 2010 Champions Spain are in grave danger of participating in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. According to El Pais, FIFA has sent a letter to RFEF, Spain’s football federation, stating that their government’s interference in the election process of its next president could see them suspended as a member.

This in simple words mean that Spain would not be part of the World Cup in Russia. Further, according to the source, a proposal by the Higher Sports Council to hold new elections would be seen as an interference in the running of the federation.

What’s the matter?

According to the rules, every country’s football federation has to be run independently. Spain’s Angel Maria Villar was arrested in July 2017, in operation investigating several alleged corruption offences.

This came in right after two months of his election to his role as RFEF’s president. Despite his suspension, Villar still holds his role as the president and Juan Luis Larrea is the stand-in president.

However, the Higher Sports Council’s recommendation of a new election is what prompted a letter from the Footballing committee.

In the year 2008, FIFA had already threatened Espanol of expulsion from Euros. Despite several deliberations, Spain overcame the committee due to a confrontation between Jaime Lissavetzky and Ángel María Villa, the disgraced former president of the federation.

Sepp Blatter’s statement:

At that time, the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter had said “the FIFA emergency committee can meet in six hours and suspend Spain, but we want to avoid that” Blatter said that the organisation he presided over was “like the United Nations but with more power.”

What it would mean to the World Cup is that the tournament would miss the visual treat of football that Spain has to offer, while it would also lose legends such as Andres Iniesta. Also what the competition would miss is the legendary footwork of David Silva, and Sergio Busquets timed well with the defence of Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos.