Spain's Administrative Sports Court (TAD) has suspended Pedro Rocha, the president of Spanish football federation (RFEF) for two years due to a serious infraction. Rocha took over as interim president after former chief Luis Rubiales resigned in September, weeks after kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent after Spain's win against England at the Women's World Cup final in August.
Before assuming the full-time presidency in April, Rocha's only official role was to oversee the elections for a new president.
During his tenure, Rocha made decisions beyond his authority, including the dismissal of senior RFEF members such as general secretary Andreu Camps, who had been appointed by Rubiales in 2018. He left his role in September after the RFEF promised “immediate and profound changes” in the wake of the Rubiales scandal.
The Athletic reported in June that the TAD had called for Rocha to be banned for six years, accusing him of overstepping his legal authority in three different decisions. They proposed a punishment of two-year bans for each ‘serious’ breach of his permitted powers.
The TAD has now suspended Rocha from holding a post in a sports federation for two years the dismissal of Camps and handed him two fines of €33,000 for the other two infringements.
The sanction imposed by the TAD could now prevent Rocha from standing in the next presidential elections this autumn, although he will appeal and ask for suspensive effect. If the TAD's decision is upheld, the RFEF will be led by its vice-president, 37-year-old former footballer María de los Ángeles "Yeye" García Chaves, as interim president until elections scheduled for September or October.
