FIFA threaten to ban Spain from the World Cup over the 'Villar affair'

Renowned Spanish publication 'El País' claims that Spain could find themselves kicked out of the World Cup due to what has become known as the 'Villar affair'.

It claims that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has received notice from football's governing body warning that the intereference of the Spanish government in sporting affairs could lead to 'the suspension of Spain as a FIFA member and thus the expulsion of the team from all competitions that theyparticipate in.' As such, Spain could be denied their chance at World Cup glory in Russia due to corruption.

The reason behind this possible sanction goes back to the proposal to hold fresh elections for the president of the RFEF by the Superior Court for Sports (CSD). The Spanish government entered into the affairs of the RFEF in order to seek an end to the 'Villar affair', with FIFA now concerned that those actions put the autonomy of the RFEF at risk.

The CSD's meddling breaches article 13 of FIFA's official statutes. Football's governing body explicitly states that: "Each member must manage its affairs in an independent manner and ensure that no third party interference comes to pass".

In the light of FIFA's warning, the current RFEF president, Juan Luis Larrea will meet with the Minister for Sport and Education Íñigo Méndez de Vigo to discuss how to tackle the problem. The pair could decide to hold fresh elections in order to force Villar, who although suspended remains a member of the federation, out.

It is not the first time FIFA has threatened to kick Spain out of an international tournament, with the RFEF being threatened with the same fate in 2008.