Rafael Louzán was elected on Monday president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for the 2024-2028 term, securing 90 votes compared to the 43 obtained by Salvador Gomar in the first round of voting by the General Assembly, composed of 138 members.
Louzán has presided over the Galician Football Federation since 2014 and previously served as president of the People’s Party in Pontevedra and of its provincial council, fulfilling expectations as the favored candidate, “El Publico” reported.
He gained the support of the majority of territorial federations and presented the highest number of endorsements, with 51.
Louzán surpassed Gomar, who has led the Valencian Federation since 2018. The result reaffirmed the Assembly’s confidence in a figure who has been connected to the RFEF for over a decade, particularly during Ángel María Villar’s presidency.
The election took place in the Luis Aragonés Hall at the Ciudad del Fútbol. The only Assembly members absent were Oviedo coach Javi Calleja, and footballers Pedro Alcalá, captain of Cartagena, and Toni Lato of Mallorca.
Louzán was also the preferred candidate of Pedro Rocha, the acting president following Rubiales’ resignation, who was disqualified by the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) for exceeding his powers as chairman of the interim board.
However, Louzán’s presidency comes with some controversy due to his past. As president of the Pontevedra provincial council, he was sentenced to seven years of disqualification from holding public office in 2021 for fraud and misconduct.
Though the fraud charges were later overturned in 2022, Louzán is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling in February 2025 on his appeal to annul the remaining sanctions.
This election marks the fourth attempt to appoint a president since Rubiales’ resignation in September 2023, following his suspension by FIFA after he was recorded forcibly kissing the women’s team captain Jenni Hermoso and for other inappropriate behavior at the Women’s World Cup final.
Other potential candidates fell short in their bids. Economist Juanma Morales failed to secure the minimum 15 endorsements, while journalist Carlos Herrera and lawyer Eva Parera ultimately withdrew. Sergio Merchán, president of the Extremadura Football Federation, also withdrew his candidacy an hour before the Assembly after presenting 23 endorsements.
The electoral commission dismissed other candidacies, including those of Pau Codina, Benigno Fidalgo, and Miguel Galán, a prominent critic of RFEF, for lack of sufficient endorsements.
A Complex Election Process
Following Rubiales’ resignation, Pedro Rocha led RFEF as part of an interim board. Elections were initially called in March 2024 to renew the Assembly and elect a president. However, TAD ruled that the interim board could only call elections to complete the previous mandate, ending in September. Rocha was later elected but disqualified in July for exceeding his authority, prompting a new election call.
RFEF faced further challenges when María Ángeles García, initially running as the sole candidate, saw her candidacy annulled after a TAD ruling upheld a challenge by Miguel Galán. FIFA and UEFA pressured RFEF to resolve its situation, leading to the election of Louzán, which concluded this turbulent process.