Luis Rubiales as a symptom of Spanish sport poor governance standards

Abstract

ABSTRACT The contentious actions of Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, following the FIFA Women's World Cup final sparked debates about his aptitude to lead the national governing body. Compelled to stand down, Rubiales faced dual three-year bans, one imposed by FIFA and the other by the Spanish government. This paper contends that the emergence of unskilled and controversial figures, exemplified by Rubiales, within the realm of Spanish sports leadership is a manifestation of the insufficient emphasis on sound governance. The governance framework of Spanish sport, notably the internal structures of national federations, coupled with a general neglect of governance standards, are compounded by a restrained regulatory stance by public authorities. This creates a context prone to clientelism, lack of accountability and lack of innovation. The reform of the National Sports Act in 2022 represents a squandered opportunity to enhance governance standards in Spanish sport. The paper scrutinises the governance provisions of the National Sports Act and compares international sport governance standards with the structures of Spanish sport federations. The article concludes that the conduct of leaders like Luis Rubiales is not a problem, but rather a symptom of Spanish sport's disregard for contemporary governance standards.