Recently, a judge denied Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Pedro Rocha’s request for a temporary injunction against his suspension. This denial leaves Rocha unable to continue in his position unless there is an urgent appeal made. The request for the injunction was made after the country’s Administrative Sports Court (TAD) suspended Rocha from holding management positions in sporting bodies for two years. The court ruled that Rocha had exceeded his authority in a decision made following the departure of his predecessor Luis Rubiales.
In the denial of the injunction request, the judge pointed out that Rocha failed to provide any evidence to support his claim that he would suffer “irreparable damage” without the injunction. The judge specifically mentioned that there was no evidence of the reality of the damages invoked, especially since the elections to the General Assembly of the RFEF had not been called at that time. This lack of evidence ultimately led to the denial of the injunction.
End of Rocha’s Reign as Acting President
As a result of the denied injunction request, unless Rocha is successful in an urgent appeal, he will not be able to stand for president in the upcoming elections this month. This situation effectively brings Rocha’s brief reign in charge of Spanish football’s governing body to an end. Rocha had taken temporary charge of the RFEF as acting president following Rubiales’ resignation in 2023.
During his time in charge, Rocha, along with the committee in temporary charge of the RFEF, implemented a series of reforms that resulted in a wide-ranging shake-up of the federation. One of the controversial decisions made was the firing of the secretary general Andreu Camps in September 2023. This decision, along with others, led to accusations of Rocha exceeding his authority, ultimately resulting in his suspension and the denial of the injunction request.
Future Role of RFEF in Organizing the World Cup
Looking ahead, the RFEF is expected to play a crucial role in the organizing of the 2030 World Cup, which Spain is set to host alongside Portugal and Morocco. Despite the recent controversies and legal issues surrounding Rocha’s tenure, the federation’s involvement in such a major event highlights the significance of its decisions and leadership moving forward.