Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar could face a lengthy prison sentence after Spain’s public prosecutor’s office called for him to be jailed for 15 and a half years, as per Al Jazeera.
The charges stem from alleged corruption and embezzlement during his nearly three-decade tenure at the head of the federation.
The indictment, stemming from contracts arranged between 2007 and 2017, alleges that Villar defrauded the RFEF of over $4.84 million. Dubbed the “Soule case,” the scandal led to Villar’s suspension from his presidential role in 2017.
Eight individuals are implicated in the case, including Villar’s son, Gorka, who could face a seven-year prison sentence. Former RFEF vice president Juan Padron is also among those facing charges.
According to the indictment, seen by AFP, Villar is accused of a range of offenses, including embezzlement, business corruption, misappropriation of funds, and the falsification of documents.
Prosecutors allege that Villar and his son personally benefitted from arranging friendly matches for the Spanish national team and manipulating the associated contracts. The specific details of how the funds were misappropriated and the documents falsified are expected to be presented during the trial.
