Spain: Pedro Rocha, RFEF president, suspended for 2 years & replaced by María Ángeles García Chaves

The Spanish Sports Administrative Court (TAD/Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte) has suspended Pedro Rocha, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), for a period of two years and fined him €33,000, according to Spanish media on 16/07/2024.

The court accuses the president of the Spanish Football Federation of having overstepped his duties, in particular when he dismissed Andreu Camps, former secretary general of the RFEF, a decision that did not fall within his remit.

The TAD also accused Pedro Rocha of improperly terminating the contract between the Spanish Federation and the law firm Tomás González Cueto, GC Legal.

Pending the early elections provided for in article 17 of the Royal Decree of 25/01/2024, vice-president María Ángeles García Chaves, born on 24/05/1987, will hold the position of president. Nicknamed "Yaye", this former player (midfielder) and coach is the first woman to hold the position. In September 2020, she was the first woman to join the Spanish Football Federation's board of delegates, the body that represents players from amateur clubs.