The RFEF Successfully Hosts the First National Compliance Congress
This initiative, promoted during the new stage of the Royal Spanish Football Federation under the presidency of Rafael Louzán, brought together representatives from FIFA, UEFA, and more than 250 executives from leading Spanish companies, and was very well received both in terms of attendance and the distinguished level of the speakers involved
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), under the presidency of Rafael Louzán, has successfully organized the First National Compliance Congress, a new initiative in this stage of the institution’s development. The event, held at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, brought together representatives from FIFA, UEFA, and more than 250 executives from leading Spanish companies, and was met with an excellent response both in terms of attendance and the caliber of its speakers.
“This gathering is fundamental to continue building a model of football governance based on openness to society through legality, responsibility, and transparency,” stated Álvaro de Miguel, Secretary General of the RFEF, during the Opening Session. He further emphasized: “We are fully committed to establishing a real and effective compliance culture. Compliance is not merely a formal requirement; it is an essential tool for our work, and I am convinced it contributes to creating a cleaner, fairer, and more professional game.”
Nefer Ruiz, Director of the Compliance Department at the RFEF and organizer of the congress, expressed her gratitude for the strong participation of compliance professionals, who filled the Luis Aragonés Hall, before delivering a presentation on the role of compliance executives within today’s corporate landscape.
Among the notable contributions was that of Astrid Rauch, Compliance and Governance Expert at FIFA, who stressed that “compliance is not simply a department, but a way of doing things,” before outlining FIFA’s approach to the subject since the creation of its Compliance Division in 2016.
The congress featured a series of presentations and roundtable discussions covering key issues, including:
Internal Corporate Investigations and E-Evidence in the Application of Compliance Systems, with Alfonso Bravo García (Partner in charge of Forensic at Grant Thornton Spain).
Factors to Avoid Potential Criminal Liability for Compliance Officers, Executives, and Internal Information Systems Managers, with Rafael Aguilera Gordillo (Co-Director, Compliance Advisory LAB, Grant Thornton Spain).
Compliance in LaLiga, presented by Esperanza Bernal-Quirós.
Regulatory Risk and Compliance in Spanish Sports Entities, a lecture by Ulysses Grundey.
Current Issues and Common Challenges in the Implementation of Internal Information Systems, a roundtable moderated by Rafael Tardío (Grupo Avintia) with the participation of Arturo Rainer (Logista), Amparo Ten (Grupo Tendam), and Marta Campomames (EMT Madrid).
Specific Strategies and Practical Criteria for Applying Compliance Systems in an Organization’s International Activities, a debate moderated by Luis Ariza (Randstad) with José Luis Torres (Sacyr) and María Méndez (Indra).
Compliance, Good Governance, and Reputational Risks: Compliance from the Stands, a panel discussion moderated by Ignacio Solana (RFEF) featuring Fernando Fraile (Iberdrola) and Domingo Picón (Mapfre Spain).
