The RFEF's General Assembly approves the 379.6 million budget for 2025 and the adaptation of its Statutes to the rules of good governance.
Rafael Louzán opens ‘a new era in which we will be open to address all issues with consensus, transparency and absolute normality’, said the RFEF president.
The General Assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which met at the Ciudad del Fútbol in an extraordinary session, marks the starting point for a new era of stability, dialogue and the search for consensus. After the official constitution of the Assembly, the general secretary, Álvaro de Miguel, called for the new president to continue with the path initiated by Spanish football of strength and stability since 16 December 2024.
Louzán thanked the Assembly for a warm reception in the Luis Aragonés hall of the Ciudad del Fútbol and wanted to inform them about the structural changes undertaken and in the process of activation by the RFEF management: ‘We are going to continue in the line of unity, consensus, work and absolute transparency. The time has come to do everything that could not be done previously. We have come to work, not to be present. I thank the professional leagues for their willingness to work together, as in the case of the unions. I think it is worthwhile for us to analyse everything with the opinions of all the players involved, with consensus. We will try to get closer to unanimity, although it is not easy. We are going to work in that direction. I would also like to thank the territorial federations for their work. There has always been great understanding. The Spanish Football Federation is what it is due to our territorial federations. They are our extension, the axes on which the football system of this country rotates. That is why they have been a priority in these first days of my mandate. I have been to Extremadura, the Canary Islands, Murcia, Valencia, Galicia, tomorrow Aragon, and in the coming weeks I will visit the others. I would like to give a special welcome to the new presidents, Pablo Prieto and Pedro Curtido, and thank those of you who are in charge of the rest for your tireless work.
‘We have also had the opportunity to share experiences with other federations and associations, including Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina and soon Morocco. UEFA and FIFA are fundamental and the RFEF's collaboration with both is vital. For this reason, we have held meetings with the presidents of both of these entities to promote the strength that comes from representing Spanish football through the Federation’.
‘An institution that needs to modernise and keep up with the times’.
‘We have started a process of transformation of this institution that must modernise and adapt to new trends. This is what I was also talking about in relation to the Statutes themselves, always under the protection of the law. I call on all those who want to contribute. We have to make a qualitative leap in digital transformation. We have been entrusted with the implementation of an OTT to give visibility to all football. We are on the way and I don't want to stop at words. We want to turn change into a reality as soon as possible. We can reduce expenses in this house and dedicate them to training footballer. With tight financial control we can do this. We likely can finalise a deal regarding the audiovisual rights of the Copa del Rey to generate more income,’ said the president.
The Assembly approved demanding and realistic budgets for 2025
As approved, the budget of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for 2025 amounts to 379.6 million euros, which is both tighter and more realistic, as it is adjusted to the sporting cycles (this year there are no Euros or World Cup finals for the men's senior national teams) and includes estimates of real income, leaving behind those that were not executed.
As well as being realistic, the RFEF's budgets are ‘demanding’, in the sense that the aim is to increase income from sponsorships and also to increase income earnings from the commercialisation of audiovisual rights for competitions organised by the Federation, while also reviewing management procedures for better control of current expenditure.
Statutes reform to comply with the principles of transparency and good governance
On the other hand, the Assembly approved the adaptation of the RFEF's General Statutes to the principles of transparency and good governance that will govern the mandate of Rafael Louzán and his Board of Directors. Among the axes of the reform are several of the commitments included in president Louzán's programme, such as transparency and codes of good governance.
In addition, recommendations of the Consejo Superior de Deportes for the good governance of sports federations and aspects of the Sports Law of 2022 that had not yet been adequately incorporated are included. On the other hand, adaptations of the CSD Resolution of March 2024 approved in the Electoral Regulations and aspects of the 2023 reform that had not been condensed by the professional leagues have been incorporated.
