“The image that Spanish football has given has been regrettable,” said David Silva. “I felt ashamed.”
Six years after saying goodbye to the national team along with Andrés Iniesta in Moscow, defeated by the very modest hosts in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia and after experiencing a scandalous tournament that foreshadowed more institutional scandals, David Silva, at 38 years old, one of the most discreet and respected figures in international football in this century, applied to return to the Spanish federation. He did so this Thursday in Madrid, as part of Juanma Morales Alonso’s team, the first candidate to officially present himself in the elections for the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), scheduled for December 16.
Born in Madrid 57 years ago, Morales, who defined himself as “a football sufferer”, was the first Spaniard to preside over the European Trade Association, has been CEO of Coca Cola and is currently general director of the IFA food distribution group. . Its program consists of 200 proposals. Raising income from 400 to 500 million euros annually, building 500 fields or doubling the licenses for women’s football stood out among their promises.
“There is only one thing in life for sure, which is death,” he responded, when asked if he was sure of getting the guarantees he needs. Because before he can present himself, he needs to be supported by at least 21 members of an assembly made up of 140 and who, as in all sports federations, are closely controlled by a clientelistic regime that naturally depends on the established power. Today the established power in the RFEF is the acting president, María Ángeles Chaves, right arm of Pedro Rocha, the last president, who despite being charged and disqualified, intends to recover the position he inherited from the resigned Luis Rubiales, who triggered the crisis. most resounding in the history of Spanish football.
Trust in Luis de la Fuente
“We have full confidence in obtaining the guarantees,” Morales insisted; “because we have spoken and, above all, we have listened to all groups to have the support and trust of the world of football.” Seconded by David Silva; Luis Milla, the former Under-21 coach and player for Madrid and Barça; and the former internationals Virginia Torrecilla and Amanda Sampedro, the candidate hinted that he had maintained contacts with Javier Tebas, president of the League, with club presidents such as Florentino Pérez, with referees and coaches, and with the territorial federations, the main substrate of the assembly whose precise endorsement.
Morales presented himself as a pure manager, guardian of good governance and the reputation of an institution whose image he says he wants to restore. Like Luis Milla, he was considerate of the sports organization that made a World Cup, three Euro Cups, and a Women’s World Cup possible. “There are many competent professionals in the federation who have made sporting successes possible,” he said, and when asked if he would keep Luis de la Fuente in office he was blunt. “I cannot take ownership of the coach. The coach belongs to everyone. If we look at the numbers, he is the current European champion, he has 2.6 points per game played, he is the second least paid coach in the last Euro only ahead of Georgia and he has managed to gain the empathy and trust of the entire team. society, managing to isolate the team from everything that has surrounded this team. “There is no reason why I should not continue to be the coach in the future.”
