Spain Still Not on the Plane to Euro 2008

The now long-running saga of Spain possibly being booted out of Euro 2008 got even more complicated yesterday. FIFA are still upset with the Spanish government forcing the Spanish Football Federation to hold elections early, and are still threatening to suspend the Spanish national team from all international competitions if they have to. Including Euro 2008.

But the SFF took a bold move yesterday by just saying no. They’re not going to hold early elections and the Spanish government is going to have to deal with it. Elections will be held in November as planned, not in March as demanded.

If it was left at that, then FIFA would probably be happy, or at least happy enough to let Spain compete in Austria & Switzerland this summer. But the government aren’t happy. And the Spanish Sports Council (CSD) seem determined to make things worse:

“No institution, however important it is, can feel that it is above the law and the decisions reached by the courts,” the CSD said in a statement.

“The CSD will analyse the agreements which were reached by the RFEF Congress and will announce their decision on what to enforce at an opportune moment.

“In any case, modifying the statutes and rules of elections to federations cannot be put into force if it does not have the endorsement of the board of the CSD, conforming to the present legislation.”

Bad news for everyone involved with Spanish football, but still good news for the team that finished third in Spain’s qualifying group. Northern Ireland will keep waiting by the phone for that possible last minute Euro 2008 reprieve.