MADRID: Spain remained firmly on course for a confrontation with FIFA which will keep alive the possibility of the national team being threatened with exclusion from the World Cup finals in Russia writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The latest twist in the Angel Maria Villar saga came when the sports administration court (TAD) upheld the decision of the national sports council (CSD) to dismiss him from his 29-year role as president of the Spanish federation (RFEF).

The CSD acted in July after Villar, former Bilbao and Spain midfielder, was arrested and detained briefly on corruption charges which have been strenuously by the former vice-president of both world federation FIFA and European governing body UEFA.

Broken rules

A TAD statement said Villar had contravened rules and regulations by campaigning for re-election last spring while retaining the leadership of the RFEF’s interim executive committee, which was supposed to be neutral in the electoral process.

The decision increases pressure on interim president Juan Luis Larrea to call elections for a successor to Villar who has been charged with setting up systems to divert federation funds to the benefit of his family and/or himself.

FIFA warned the RFEF last week that apparent political interference in its affairs by the goverment, via the CSD, contravened its statutes and risked disciplinary action which could led to suspension which would bar the national team from playing at the World Cup.

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