Villar: Spain in Danger of Missing the 2018 World Cup

Villar: Spain in Danger of Missing the 2018 World Cup

The suspended President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has warned that the government interference could cost the Spain national team their spot at next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Angel Maria Villar was removed from his post in July and is currently on bail awaiting trial on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents.

FIFA confirmed recently that it had sent a letter to RFEF expressing concern over the independence of the federation and reminding it of it’s duty to “manage theri affairs independently and ensure that their own affairs are not influenced by any third parties”.

Villar believes that failure to do so could result in Spain being banned from the World Cup, allowing another country to take its place for football’s showpiece event next summer.

“The only ones responsible for the possibility that the national team could miss out on the World Cup is the current government,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

“No one wants this, least of all me, but there are other national teams like Italy that missed out on the World Cup that will jump at the chance to take a World Cup spot.”