The Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) – the administrative body that resolves disputes in the world of sport – has ruled that the current president of the Football Federation (RFEF), Pedro Rocha, must be disqualified for two years from holding any federation position, according to the sports media Relevo. If the proposed sanction is confirmed, since Rocha has the possibility of appealing the sanction, it would mean the immediate departure of the president from football, after sharing the stage with authorities and giving interviews to the media during the celebration of the European Championship in Germany in which the men’s team was proclaimed champion. In addition, he would be excluded from the next elections to the RFEF, scheduled for September, so he would not be able to present his candidacy.
The TAD opened a case against him in April for a possible “very serious” offence following a complaint by Miguel Ángel Galán, president of the National Centre for the Training of Football Coaches, for exceeding his duties as president of the management committee that took over the reins of the Federation after the resignation of Luis Rubiales for kissing Jenni Hermoso. According to article 31.8 of the statutes of the Federation, the mission of the president of the management committee is to call elections to choose a president to finish the mandate of the resigning Rocha. However, Rocha made important decisions, which led to the complaint being studied by the TAD, which has now sanctioned him.
After the members of the Court met, and after the instructor proposed six years of qualification, they have imposed the sanction of two years for the dismissal of the then general secretary of Rubiales, Andreu Camps. They understand that Rocha overstepped his authority by making a decision of that magnitude: Mr. Rocha overstepped his functions, he exercised government functions without being a single-person governing body,” says the ruling. In addition, they impose two fines of 16,000 euros each. The first, for giving the instruction to represent the RFEF in the judicial case that investigates the Super Cup and corruption during the Rubiales era, a case in which Rocha himself is accused. The other sanction is for terminating the contract with the law firm of Tomás González Cueto, which set up the entire legal structure in the Rubiales years and is also accused in the Super Cup case, along with other former RFEF directors.
The Federation has responded to elDiario.es that there is complete “normality” in the country, as it has a vice-president who could temporarily replace Rocha. It is not known whether the current president of the Football Federation is going to appeal the sanction imposed by the TAD – which would delay his departure – or whether he is going to accept the sanction and, therefore, will leave the post immediately, which would lead to another period of uncertainty until the September elections, in which the Federation could have to resort to a management committee again. Precisely the TAD ruling exonerates Rocha’s team during its temporary presidency and considers only the current president responsible, who has a temporary mandate – he was the only candidate to obtain the endorsements – until the elections that will elect a new assembly and a new leader.
Source: www.eldiario.es
