Spain’s football federation (RFEF) elected Rafael Louzan as its new president on Monday, marking a fresh start after more than a year of scandals that have rocked the organisation. Louzan, 57, who has led the Galicia football federation since 2014, won the election by 90 votes to 43, defeating Salvador Gomar from the Valencia region. He is set to lead the RFEF through to 2028.
However, Louzan’s tenure could be cut short due to a potential ban from holding public office. Spain’s Supreme Court is currently reviewing an appeal regarding Louzan’s previous conviction for abuse of office. Should the court uphold the conviction, Louzan could become the fourth president to be ousted from the RFEF in under eight years, following the departures of Ángel María Villar in 2017, Luis Rubiales, and Pedro Rocha.
The latest leadership change comes after a turbulent period for the federation, which began in August 2023 when Rubiales sparked national outrage by forcibly kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup in Australia. Despite Rubiales’s claims of innocence, he was forced to resign later that year. He faces trial in February 2025, with prosecutors seeking a two-and-a-half-year sentence for sexual assault and coercion.
The scandal continued with Pedro Rocha, Rubiales’s interim successor, being suspended in July for overstepping his authority. Both Rocha and Rubiales are under investigation as part of a separate corruption probe.
Despite the internal turmoil, Spain’s national football teams have managed to perform on the field. The men’s team won the Euro 2024 title and gold at the Paris Olympics, while Spain will co-host the 2030 Men’s World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco.
