MADRID (AP) — Former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will lead the Spanish government’s commission overseeing the country’s soccer federation after a corruption probe targeted the current and former federation presidents.
Spain’s Higher Sports Council created the commission last week in an extraordinary measure for the coming months “in response to the crisis the institution is facing and in Spain’s national interests.”
The addition of Del Bosque may help the image of Spanish soccer after the government expressed concern for the reputational damage to the federation as the country is set to co-host the 2030 men’s World Cup with Portugal and Morocco. Spain is also hoping for success at this summer’s men’s European Championship and at the Paris Olympics.
“Del Bosque represents the best of our country in soccer,” Pilar Alegría, the minister representing Spain’s top sports authority, said at Tuesday’s announcement. “He is our world champion, our European champion. He is a beloved man.”
The 73-year-old Del Bosque was Spain’s coach when it won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
The move by the government came a few weeks after an investigating judge expanded a corruption probe to include federation president Pedro Rocha after the arrest of predecessor Luis Rubiales.
The corruption and money laundering investigation is looking into contracts that took the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia and federation links with Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium, which hosts the Copa del Rey final and some international games, among other deals.
Rocha and Rubiales have denied any wrongdoing.
Rocha took over as interim president after Rubiales stepped down in September, weeks after he became a national embarrassment for kissing a player without her consent during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony.
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