Angel Maria Villar’s rival to be Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] President accuses him of creating a ‘system of patronage.’
Jorge Perez has told AS that while Villar has done a lot of good for the game in Spain, it’s time for a fresh face at the helm with elections to come later in 2016.
“I’d describe Villar as tenacious and hard-working. But his personality has changed over time. He’s stopped listening to the people he was close to. I decided to stand in October 2015, after I fell out with him. I spoke to a President of a club and told him what I was thinking,” Perez explained.
“I spoke to [La Liga President] Javier Tebas and he said he was ok with what I was doing and that I would have the support of professional football. I’m not the candidate of La Liga. What I want is the support of everyone, professional football, women, the Segunda, the Segunda B, the referees…I want to be the candidate of everyone.
“La Liga has grown so much they can help us more than we can help them. So if I’m the President there will be full co-operation. I have a young team with a lot of ideas. And I want the regional Presidents to be my cornerstones.
“I have eight or nine supporters. It’s vital we have electronic voting, so people can vote without fear of reprisal. Villar controls the voting apparatus with Juan Pedron. They have created a system of patronage for many years. And they’ve done a lot of good things, I don’t deny that. But their model is exhausted.
“It would be good for Spanish football if Villar became UEFA President. The RFEF’s model is exhausted. But to have UEFA represented by a Spaniard would be good. The Recreativo case? I don’t want to talk about that, it’s with the courts.
“I’d always play the Copa del Rey Final in Madrid, a one-off. There are two stages: La Peineta [Atletico Madrid’s future home] or Santiago Bernabeu. It should be decided before the competition. It’s become an insufferable annual farce. And I’d like the Supercopa de Espana as a single match at a neutral venue.”
