MADRID: Angel Maria Villar is poised to extend his reign as president of the Spanish football federation after the electoral panel barred rival Jorge Perez writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Perez has said he will appeal against the bar to the national sports council.

Villar, a vice-president member of the conservative old guard at FIFA and European governing body UEFA, is seeking on May 22 to prolong a reign in Spain which has lasted 29 years. Perez was formerly his federation general secretary.

A former Spain and Bilbao midfielder, Villar has cone under pressure over a €1.2m government grant which was spent on development projects in the Caribbean in support of the doomed bid (with Portugal) to win host rights to the 2018 World Cup.

The monies were refunded to the sports council after the federation failed to satisfy the CSD about its use.

A statement from the RFEF last week said Perez had been barred after a “transparent and honest” review and that it would defend itself in court if necessary.

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