Pedro Rocha, the President of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has been suspended for two years by Spain’s Sports Administrative Tribunal (TAD) for “abusing his authority.”
The TAD considered that Rocha’s dismissal of former General Secretary Andreu Camps in September constituted an abuse of power, according to media reports.
The TAD had called for a six-year ban for Rocha, citing three instances of alleged overstepping of legal authority, news outlet “The Athletic” revealed in June.
The original proposed penalties, which included a two-year ban for each serious breach of his permissible powers, have been reduced to a two-year suspension from holding any post in a sports federation and two fines totaling €33,055.68 for the other two infringements.
The TAD deemed that Rocha’s actions violated football regulations, specifically Article 76.1 regarding the abuse of authority. Specifically, he dismissed Camps without first consulting the RFEF’s management committee, which ultimately rejected the decision. Rocha also made two further administrative decisions without consulting the management committee, resulting in two additional fines.
Rocha assumed the role of interim president following the resignation of former RFEF president Luis Rubiales in August of last year. Rubiales’s departure was prompted by an incident during the 2022 Women’s World Cup presentation ceremony, when he kissed Spanish striker Jenni Hermoso without her consent.
During his tenure, Rocha also dismissed several senior members of the RFEF, including Camps, who had been appointed by Rubiales in 2018.