(ATR) Imprisoned Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar quits his posts at FIFA and UEFA as he battles corruption charges.
The 67-year-old Villar, a former Spain international as a player, served as a vice-president at both organizations. FIFA and UEFA, European football’s governing body, confirmed the resignations.
Earlier this week, Villar was suspended for a year as RFEF president by Spain’s top sports authority.
The RFEF named its treasurer Juan Luis Larrea as interim president on Wednesday.
Villar, who was arrested on July 18 along with his son Gorka and two other RFEF officials on corruption charges, remains in prison after being denied bail.
Allegations include embezzlement, fraud and the falsification of documents related to the organization of international football matches. Villar denies the charges.
Villar has been head of the RFEF for 29 years and, because of his position there, was also a Spanish Olympic Committee board member.
He served as UEFA’s acting president for almost a year, beginning in October 2015, after Michel Platini was suspended.
FIFA’s Ethics Committee fined Villar 25,000 Swiss francs ($26,080) in November 2015 for failing to cooperate with an investigation into the host bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Written by Gerard Farek
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