President of the Spanish Football Federation was arrested

Mr. Angel Maria Villar Llona and his son have just been arrested by Spanish police to serve a corruption investigation.

Mr. Villar was led away by police from the Spanish Football Federation headquarters in Las Rozas, a suburb of Madrid. Photo: Reuters.

According to El Pais and EFE news agency, Mr. Villar was accused of embezzling public funds. This is a big shock for Spanish football, because the Bilbao-born official has been in the top leadership of the Spanish Football Federation since 1988.

Villar’s ​​son, Gokar, a legal officer at the federation, was also arrested along with three others on Tuesday, July 18. Gokar served as legal director and then general director of the South American Football Confederation (Comebol) before resigning in July 2016. Before his departure, Gokar was accused of blackmailing several Uruguayan clubs.

Spain's Supreme Court told Reuters an investigating judge and prosecutors specialising in corruption were leading the operation. Spanish media said investigators had evidence of forged documents and illegal profits from international matches.

Mr. Villar in 2009 when he signed an agreement with Portugal to bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Photo: Reuters.

Villar is the most powerful figure in Spanish football. He took over as interim president of UEFA, Michel Platini, who was ousted in October 2015, but lost the following election.

Attorney Michael Garcia, who led the investigation, said the 67-year-old official told him he was "brave" for not revealing who provided the evidence. Villar also asked Mr. Garcia to drop the case for "his own benefit."

Under Villar, Spain experienced a glorious period with two consecutive Euro championships and one World Cup from 2008 to 2012. This was the time when the red team was considered one of the strongest football forces in history.

Villar's arrest, however, shows that the corruption investigation stemming from FIFA is still ongoing. Several officials who served as presidents of national federations have been caught up in the law.

According to VNE