The appointment of Irene Lozano as president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD) may surprise her by her limited background in the world of sports, but not by her political profile. After passing through the Secretary of State of Global Spain, she will need her negotiating skills to solve different pending ballots of the previous legislature (to carry out the draft of the Sports Law, manage the eternal RFEF-LaLiga confrontation) and one of the most urgent: decide on the electoral advance for the presidency of the football federation that Luis Rubiales has asked for.
The president of the RFEF asked the CSD to advance the elections before March 31, which is a problem in the year of the Olympic Games, since the Ministerial Order establishes that in these circumstances (provided that the federation participates, and is the case of football) elections must be held two months after the end of the Games. Precisely, two months are those that are missing for the deadline that Rubiales wants.
Due to the proximity of the deadlines, it could be Lozano's first big decision in front of the CSD. The reason is that, depending on what is decided, the possibility of a strong opposition to Rubiales may be more or less viable. On the horizon, two options that are still far from being a reality: Iker Casillas and Mariano Rajoy.
Both the former captain of the National Team and the former president of the Government have appeared in recent weeks as possible candidates, although Rajoy's seems to be conditioned on what happens with Casillas, who will know in March if he is still suitable for play football after the heart attack he suffered in May.
In any case, one and the other would remain in a delicate position if the elections were advanced. Two months is a very short period of time for obtaining sufficient support for the Rubiales option, which would have the terms in its favor in the search for reelection.
The ball is on the roof of the CSD, but the decision will not be taken urgently. Agency sources assure the Economist that, while still in a transition period (in fact, Irene Lozano has not yet taken possession), no action should be taken.
The same sources ensure that, before approving or rejecting Rubiales' request, the new president of the CSD will have to meet first with the professionals of the organization, who are aware of the ins and outs of an institution to which Irene Lozano (and her closest team) just arrived and they have to catch up. Only later can it be pronounced in one direction or another. Rubiales will have to wait for that … just like Casillas and Rajoy.
The final stretch of the Rubiales legislature has been clouded by the outbreak of an ethical crisis and its history of institutional clashes
What at first seemed like a kind of process for the former president of AFE has been complicated over the weeks. The outbreak of a crisis of ethics in the RFEF and the criticisms received even from the Government for the transfer of the Super Cup from Spain to Saudi Arabia have put a federation that, in a little more than a year and a half, has had a florid history of clashes with LaLiga, football unions, Mediapro and Adidas.
The involvement of some members of its board of directors in other pieces of the 'Operation Soule' (such as Andreu Subies and Antonio Suárez Santana, investigated by the Civil Guard) and the resignations of different members of the Ethics Commission following the obstacles from the presidency To open a file to Jacinto Alonso, president of the Rioja federation, for a possible crime of corruption, they have thinned the pre-election environment in Las Rozas.
Why does Mariano Rajoy break into the race against Luis Rubiales for the presidency of the RFEF?