Víctor Francos (Sardañola del Vallés, Barcelona, 44 years old), president of the CSD since June, has been key to resolving the very serious conflict that threatened to blow up the world champion Spanish team in Sydney. “The profound change that the players are asking for is unstoppable,” warns EL CORREO in the first interview he grants after promoting the armistice between the players and the leaders.
– What was the key to avoiding the disbandment of the national team players?
– The Federation has given them certainty of change in some things, the Government assured them that in those that depended on us there would be no sanctions and then they would have a calm, relaxed conversation that would give certainties.
– Andreu Camps, general secretary, has already been fired. Do you have the guarantee that the same will happen with the other people who have requested that they be dismissed?
– That is the commitment that the Federation has acquired with them. We are completely sure that they will comply. We neither can, nor should, nor do we want to enter the organization chart of the Federation.
– How many more people are going to leave and from what departments?
– I have no idea. The players have discussed the list of the players’ requests with their respective reasons with the Federation and I assure you that neither the Federation nor the players have told us, because we are also nobody in that matter.
– Did the players ask that Montse Tomé, the coach, be fired?
– At no time did they talk to me about termination. They told me that they were very upset by how the call had taken place, that they had been surprised by having been called without having said that they wanted to be.
– Will the coach continue after these two games?
– It will depend on the Federation. The CSD neither appoints nor dismisses selectors.
– Can a coach who summoned them without their consent and lied by saying that she had spoken to the players when she had not?
– The coach recognizes her mistake. I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with her and she told me ‘I said I had spoken with them, but it is true that I had not spoken with all of them, but with many.’ But I repeat, it is not within my powers who are selectors.
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– The elections to the Federation will be in the first quarter of 2024. What would you think if Pedro Rocha ran for those elections?
– I have no opinion. The elections have to be absolutely free, but what I am clear about is that, whoever comes forward, if they do not understand that a very profound change must be made in all football structures, especially because the situation demands it, they will will be wrong. I have no opinion on specific people. What I have is a very clear opinion that we must go to a process of change.
– Where should this change go?
– What the players say is quite simple to understand, that all those who have behaved incorrectly towards them cannot continue leading the Federation. I can understand that someone is wrong. No one has said otherwise, but there cannot be repeated behaviors that make them uncomfortable, which is what they say.
– Upon arriving at the Valencia camp, she said “there are behaviors that worry or scare the players.” Which are?
– They said it. They did not specify it for me beyond what has been published that they say about the pressure on Jenni Hermoso or some calls. If those types of behaviors have occurred, they cannot be produced again.
– What can the Government do to ensure that football appoints a member of the old apparatus as president who does not make the changes demanded?
– What the Government is going to do is an electoral ministerial order that will try to gain transparency in the electoral process and ensure that it will be absolutely clean, neat and open. The Government is going to do that, but the Government does not elect presidents of federations.
Rubiales and the Government
– One of the great criticisms of the Government is that it allowed Rubiales to do things when scandals began to spread, commissions to Piqué, party at Salobreña’s chalet… Why didn’t he intervene sooner?
– I can explain as far as I know. I have been president of the CSD since June 30 and I do not want to speak for my predecessors. The cases are judicialized. The Government could have elevated it to the TAD, but given what was seen without the guarantee that it would have agreed with us or that it would have been quick in making decisions. The Government had the margin it had. These processes are in the courts and will have a resolution.
– There are many who accuse the Government of protecting Rubiales.
– They accuse us of everything every day. I can speak for myself and that is not the case.
– Have you had slogans to protect Rubiales?
– Never. Nobody has given me the order to protect Rubiales. Neither from the Government nor from outside the Government.
– Is the damage to the 2030 World Cup irreparable?
– It is not irreparable. President Sánchez was with Infantino on Wednesday in New York and the tone was normal. We are the best candidate. I am convinced that we have a good chance of it being played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
– Have you seen Rubiales’ hands behind the latest movements of the Federation?
– No, what I see are some players who ask for a profound change that is taking place. Change is unstoppable because it must be that way. Society demands it of us. We cannot maintain situations that are occurring. They denounce facts that have nothing to do with gender. I am a jurist and I always respect the presumption of innocence, but as a political leader I have to denounce certain attitudes.
– As a jurist, among the attitudes that the players reported against him. Are there any that could have criminal consequences?
– The players in the meetings I was in said ‘the Federation knows the names and the causes’. Not a single name or cause was ever put on the table in front of me. And the Federation responded ‘we know and we are going to take all the corresponding measures starting tomorrow.’ We will be vigilant and collaborative with the Federation in this process.
– How to prevent cases like these from happening again?
– We will have to make modifications to the Sports Law, a regulatory development with many nuances on how to act in similar situations and a very precise ministerial order to guarantee transparent, open and absolutely clear electoral processes. In the coming weeks we will make a proposal. The electoral order is going to be more vigilant about the electoral processes.
2023-09-21 23:11:49
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