FIFA threaten to exclude Spain from 2018 World Cup due to government interference

What's the story?

2010 World Cup champions Spain run the risk of being kicked out of the FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia next year after it was learned that the government could be trying to influence the electoral process of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (aka the RFEF - Real Federación Española de Fútbol).

FIFA have sent a warning via a letter to the Federation stating that if the Spanish government interferes, FIFA could suspend Spain as an associate member.

The matter in question refers to the RFEF President Ángel María Villar who was arrested in Operation Soule - an anti-corruption operation that targeted several high-ranking officials who were named in several alleged offences.

FIFA state that the fact that the Higher Council of Sports (CSD - Spain's sports tribunal) wants a re-election counts as government intervention.

In case you didn't know...

Operation Soule (aka Operación Soule) was overseen by a High Court judge and was an investigation into the possible misuse of the Spanish Federation's finances to help Villar in his re-election campaign.

The investigators claimed he had paid off the regional federation heads to help secure his re-election. He was also suspected of "staging international football matches as part of a scheme to embezzle profits for the benefit of his son".

The investigation and arrests were conducted just prior to the 2017/18 La Liga season.

The heart of the matter

What complicates this matter is that Villa is still the RFEF President despite the arrest. The 67-year-old refused to submit his resignation following the arrest and he was released on bail.

Angel Maria Villar was arrested in July 2017

Villar had claimed that he was a victim of politics and proclaimed his innocence and even the regional heads issued a statement where they stood behind him through the ordeal.

Although he is currently serving a suspension, acting president Juan Larrea has also backed him. Larrea also refused to suspend Villar.

What's next?

FIFA Article 13 states: "Each member must manage their affairs independently and ensure that there is no interference by third parties in their affairs."

The Spanish government believes a re-election is necessary for two reasons - to end Villar's reign and also rebuild the legacy of a tarnished football federation.

Author's take

Amidst all this, the Spanish national team finds itself between a rock and a hard place. While a re-election is necessary, they will be wary of FIFA's threat to suspend them and they will be evaluating their options before taking the next step.

This is not the first time Spain has been threatened with a suspension just four months before Euro 2008. At the time, the Spanish government had ordered all sports federations that were not competing in the Beijing Olympics to hold fresh elections and the RFEF's term was still not completed at the time.

Spain are a superpower in world football and a World Cup without them would be a blow to not only the country but the sport in general. With the World Cup exactly six months away, the hope is that sanity prevails and Spain travel to Russia for the quadrennial tournament.