By Fernando Kallas
MADRID (Reuters) -The general assembly of Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF) elected Rafael Louzan as president on Monday after more than a year of turmoil at the scandal-ridden body following the downfall of former chief Luis Rubiales and his right-hand man Pedro Rocha.
Head of Galicia’s regional FA, Louzan, 57, received 90 votes to beat Valencian FA chief Salvador Gomar who garnered only 43 votes in a two-way race following a last-minute withdrawal of Extremadura FA’s head Sergio Merchan.
Rubiales has been the target of a corruption investigation, and is due to stand trial in February for sexual assault over his unsolicited kiss of player Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Sydney.
Rocha, who briefly succeeded him, was handed a two-year ban for irregularities.
Last April, the Spanish government created a special committee to oversee the soccer governing body until it held new elections.
Louzan, too, has had legal problems that could plague the RFEF’s hopes of starting with a clean slate as Spain gears up to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
In May 2022, he was found guilty of malfeasance in a case involving a contract to improve a football pitch in the city of Morana. Although he was cleared of fraud charges, the sentence barred him from holding public office for seven years.
Louzan has denied wrongdoing and appealed, which allowed him to run for RFEF presidency. The Supreme Court is due to hear the appeal on Feb. 5.
His landslide victory was expected as he was seen as the consensus candidate after spending months strategically building relationships, particularly with LaLiga president Javier Tebas.
“(RFEF) is the home for everyone in Spanish football. Past this election we finally become one team where everyone will be able to contribute to a football federation, which is our life and our passion,” Louzan told the assembly.
“It is time to recover the prestige and image of this organization and to reach it we need to stick together, because only those who stay united can obtain results.
“I would like to specially thank my dear friend (Pedro) Rocha who started this new path. A football leader can also be a good person.”
Backed by the professional clubs’ votes, Louzan’s election may end years of disagreement between the RFEF and LaLiga with Rubiales’ multimillion-euro deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia and Tebas’ plans to play regular season games overseas under the spotlight.
Following the formal announcement of his election, Louzan went straight to Tebas in the RFEF Las Rozas Football City auditorium and embraced the LaLiga president.
However, Louzan’s own legal battles will leave Spanish football in a murky place if the Supreme Court upholds his ban in less than two months.
“On (LaLiga) personal side, I wanted Louzan to be the president. We hope to continue in the same dynamic, with dialogue and working together on several fronts,” Tebas told reporters.
“I am not worried about his possible ban. I am sure he will surround himself with good people and a good team. I hope he will be the president for a long term.”
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, additional reporting by Emma PinedoEditing by Christian Radnedge)
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