Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Angel Maria Villar Llona was reprimanded by Fifa for not co-operating with an inquiry

The president of the Spanish Football Federation and his son have been held as part of a corruption investigation, police in Spain say.

Angel María Villar Llona was arrested on suspicion of embezzling funds, El Pais and Efe news agency reported.

Mr Villar, a former Spain international footballer, has been president of the association since 1988.

His son Gorka was among a number of other people also arrested during a number of raids early on Tuesday.

Spain's High Court told Reuters that one of its investigating magistrates and anti-corruption prosecutors were leading the probe.

Spanish media report that the allegations centre on the falsification of documents and skimming profits from international football matches.

There has been no comment yet from Mr Villar, 67, or his lawyers.

'You really have balls'

In Villar's time as president of the federation, Spain's men's football team has won two European championships as well as the 2010 World Cup, becoming one of football's dominant forces.

He has also served on the council of football's world governing body Fifa for the past 29 years, but was reprimanded by Fifa for failing to comply with its internal inquiry into the 2018/22 World Cup bidding process.

Why Spanish stars are in legal trouble

Michael Garcia, who conducted the investigation, wrote that Mr Villar told him: "Well, you really have balls" when the American lawyer refused to reveal who had made allegations against Mr Villar. He also demanded Mr Garcia drop the case "for your own good".

Richard Conway, the BBC's sports news correspondent, said the Spaniard's arrest is significant and a clear signal that the many issues surrounding officials who presided over world football in recent decades continue.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Gorka Villar was reportedly among those arrested

Mr Villar was acting president of Uefa, Europe's footballing body, while its chief Michel Platini was under investigation. He lost out on the presidency in an election last year.

Uefa and Fifa said they were aware of the reports.

Gorka Villar served as the director-general of the South American football confederation Conmebol before standing down last year.

Before standing down, he had been accused of extortion by a number of Uruguyan football clubs.</s>Police in Spain say they have arrested Ángel María Villar Llona, the president of Spain’s football association, Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF).

Villar Llona, who is also a senior vice-president at Fifa and Uefa, was arrested on Tuesday morning along with his son and three other federation executives as part of an anti-corruption investigation.

Spain’s Guardia Civil said in a statement on Tuesday that Villar Llona, his son Gorka, and three other football officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters in Madrid.

Police said the other three men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation vice president of economic affairs, and both the president and the secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife.

Police said the five men were arrested on charges of corruption as part of an investigation into the finances of the federations.

Spain’s minister of education, culture and sport, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, said moments after the raids that “in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody is above the law.”

UEFA said in a statement it “is aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time.”</s>Angel Maria Villar arrested along with his son and two more federation executives in an anti-corruption investigation.

The Spanish Football Federation president, Angel Maria Villar, was arrested along with his son and two more federation executives in an anti-corruption investigation on Tuesday.

Villar, who is also FIFA's senior vice president and a UEFA vice president, was suspected of having arranged matches for Spain that led to business deals that benefited his son, said the office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption.

The state prosecutor and Spanish police said Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and two other football officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters and other properties.

Two uniformed policemen guarded the entrance to the federation as staff went in and out of the offices near the training grounds for Spain's national teams in Las Rozas, just outside Madrid.

The other two men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation's vice president of economic affairs who is also the president of the regional federation for Tenerife, and Ramon Hernandez, the secretary of that regional federation.

The four men were arrested on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations.

"We have taken note of the media reports concerning the situation of Mr Villar Llona," FIFA said in a statement. "As the matter seems to be linked to internal affairs of the Spanish Football Association, for the time being, we kindly refer you to them for further details."

As part of an operation called "Soule", police said they raided the national federation's headquarters, the offices of the regional football federation on the island of Tenerife, and "headquarters of businesses and several private homes linked to the arrested individuals".

Police started the probe in early 2016 after a complaint was made by Spain's Higher Council of Sport, the government's sports authority.

The probe led the state prosecutor's office to suspect that Angel Maria Villar "could have arranged matches of the Spanish national team with other national teams, thereby gaining in return contracts for services and other business ventures in benefit of his son".

The prosecutor's office said they suspect that Padron and the Tenerife secretary "favoured the contracting of business" for their personal benefit.

Inigo Mendez de Vigo, Spain's minister of education, culture and sport, told national television moments after the raids that "in Spain, the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law".

Calls made by The Associated Press to the Spanish and Tenerife federations went unanswered.

UEFA said in a statement it was "aware of the reports regarding Mr Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time." The Higher Council of Sport said it will "use everything in its means to ensure that competitions are not affected" by the arrests.

Villar at the heart of FIFA and UEFA politics

A former professional football player, the 67-year-old Villar has been the head of Spain's football federation since 1988, overseeing its national team's victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Villar has also been at the heart of FIFA and UEFA politics since the 1990s, and has worked closely with several international football leaders who have since been indicted by the US Department of Justice.

His son, Gorka, worked in recent years for South American body CONMEBOL as legal director then as the CEO-like director general for three presidents who were implicated in the US federal investigation. Gorka Villar left CONMEBOL in July 2016.

Angel Maria Villar was a tough midfielder for Athletic Bilbao and Spain before retiring to work as a lawyer and football administrator. He was elected to the UEFA executive committee 25 years ago and to FIFA's ruling committee 19 years ago. He has also been an influential figure in the legal and referees committees of both organisations.

In the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests, Angel Maria Villar led the Spain-Portugal bid which the FIFA ethics committee briefly investigated in 2010 for allegedly arranging a voting pact involving South American voters to trade support with Qatar's bid. Russia won the 2018 contest.

Villar's conduct in a subsequent wider probe of the bids was singled out in a report by then-FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia.

"He (Villar) was not willing to discuss the facts and circumstances of the case," Garcia wrote in a 2014 report that was published last month. "Moreover, his tone and manner were deeply disturbing, as the audio recording of the interview ... makes evident."

Increasingly seen as a polarising figure with leadership ambitions, Villar decided against trying to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA president last year.</s>Police say they have arrested Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar, his son and three more federation executives as part of an anti-corruption probe.

Spain's Guardia Civil said in a statement today that Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and three other football officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters.

Villar is also a senior vice president of FIFA and senior vice president of UEFA.

Police said the other three men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation vice president of economic affairs, and the president and the secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife.

Police said the five men were arrested on charges of corruption as part of a probe into the finances of the federations.

Spain's minister of education, culture and sport, Inigo Mendez de Vigo, told national television moments after the raids that "in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law."

UEFA said in a statement it "is aware of the reports regarding Mr Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time.”</s>MADRID (AP) — Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar was arrested Tuesday along with his son and two more federation executives in an anti-corruption investigation.

The office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption says Villar, who is FIFA’s senior vice president and a UEFA vice president, is suspected of having arranged matches for Spain that led to business deals that benefited his son.

The state prosecutor and Spanish police say Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and two other soccer officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters and other properties.

The other two men arrested were Juan Padron, the federation’s vice president of economic affairs who is also the president of the regional federation for Tenerife, and Ramon Hernandez, the secretary of that regional federation.

Later on Tuesday, policemen were seen escorting Angel Maria Villar into the Spanish Football Federation offices on the outskirts of Madrid several.

Villar, the president of the Spanish federation and FIFA’s senior vice president, emerged from a Guardia Civil vehicle in casual clothes and was taken inside the premises by two agents.

Villar had been spotted half an hour earlier as agents drove him out of his Madrid apartment, Spanish national broadcaster TVE said.

The Guardia Civil says the investigation is still open.</s>Spanish FA president Angel Maria Villar and his son, former CONMEBOL executive Gorka Villar, and three other men have been arrested as part of a corruption investigation.A spokesman for Spain's Guardia Civil told The Associated Press that police agents raided the offices of the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF) early Tuesday as part of an investigation into its finances.The office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption said they suspect Villar, who is FIFA's senior vice president and a UEFA vice president, of having arranged matches for Spain's national team that led to business deals that benefited his son.The other three men arrested were Juan Padron, the federation's vice president of economic affairs, along with the president and the secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife.Police said the five men were arrested on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations. The raids were carried out by the Guardia Civil's anti-corruption unit as part of an operation called "SOULE."Inigo Mendez de Vigo, Spain's minister of education, culture and sport, told national television moments after the raids that "in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law."UEFA said in a statement it is "aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time."Spanish newspaper El Pais reports that the investigation is being overseen by Audiencia Nacional judge Santiago Pedraz and is looking into alleged use of RFEF money to secure support from Spain's regional federations for Villar's recent re-election for an eighth consecutive term as federation president.Former Athletic Bilbao player Villar founded Spain's players union (AFE) in 1978 before becoming RFEF chief in 1988. A strong ally of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for many years, the Basque became a vice president of FIFA in 2002, and was last year made acting chairman of the Organising Committee for the World Cup 2018 after corruption charges had cleared away many of the previous office holders in world football's governing body.Villar's seven terms as RFEF president have brought regular allegations of a lack of transparency within the Spanish FA's finances and decision-making processes. A number of court cases have been brought over the years, but no charges ever stuck.Gorka Villar stepped down as CONMEBOL director general in July 2016 after his time with the South American federation had also brought many allegations of wrongdoing. He has also been a member of FIFA's Reform Panel.The raid comes two days before an RFEF assembly is scheduled to decide the dates for Spanish football's 2017-18 calendar.</s>Madrid, July 19, (GNA/dpa) - Angel Maria Villar, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and a FIFA vice-president, was arrested on Tuesday along with his son Gorka in an anti-corruption operation, the Guardia Civil law enforcement agency said.

The headquarters of the RFEF and private homes were raided as part of the investigation, a statement said.

The operation is being carried out by the Guardia Civil under the supervision of the judge of the National Court, Santiago Pedraz, who is investigating alleged false administration, misappropriation, corruption between individuals and falsification, it added.

Police also arrested two other football executives, Juan Padron, a financial deputy director and president of the Tenerife football federation, and Ramon Hernandez Baussou, secretary general of the Tenerife federation, as part of the operation called SOULE.

"As part of the operation, the Guardia Civil is conducting various searches of the RFEF headquarters, the Tenerife federation headquarters, and various homes and offices linked to those detained," a statement said.

In initial investigations it is alleged Villar favoured leaders of regional federations, using money from the RFEF to obtain support for his re-election as the head of the Spanish football federation.

The Guardia Civil said the investigation, which began in early 2016, had looked into how Villar had allegedly arranged certain fixtures of the Spain national team "that enabled him to obtain payment for the contracting of services and other commercial activities that benefited his son," a lawyer specialising in sport.

The Spanish government meanwhile said all football competitions in the country would proceed as usual despite the arrests.

"Spain is a state of law, no area of ??this country is outside of legality nor is it beyond the control of justice, sports and football," said the government's Council of Sports (CSD) in a statement.

"Institutions work, we must let the state security forces and bodies, and judicial bodies work."

Jose Ramon Lete, secretary of state for sport, said Villar's arrest "is not good for the image of Spain."

Villar, 67, was re-elected unopposed in May for the eighth time as RFEF president to begin another four-year term.

The former Athletic Bilbao player and Spain international has been president of RFEF for 29 years.

He has been a member of world governing body FIFA's executive committee, now council, for the last 19 years and has been a member of European governing body UEFA's executive committee since 1992.

In November 2015, he was warned by FIFA's ethics committee and fined for failing to cooperate in a probe by former FIFA investigator Michael Garcia into the controversial allocation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Later he showed willingness to cooperate in the investigation. He and Hany Abo Rida of Egypt are now the only remaining members of the then FIFA executive, who voted for the two World Cup hosts in December 2010.

Gorka Villar became an influential figure within the South American confederation CONMEBOL, where from December 2014 until July 2016 he served as director general.

A FIFA spokesperson said it had "taken note of the media reports concerning the situation of Mr Villar Llona."

He added: "As the matter seems to be linked to internal affairs of the Spanish Football Association, for the time being we kindly refer you to them for further details."

The arrests and raids come just two days before Thursday's RFEF general assembly during which the fixture schedule for the 2017-2018 Spanish league season is expected to be approved.

Although Villar and Padron, one of three vice-presidents but regarded as Villar's right-hand man at the federation, are now under arrest the federation's statutes allow the assembly to go ahead with the president represented either in order by a vice-president, the treasurer or ultimately by the most senior member.</s>Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar was arrested Tuesday along with his son and two more federation executives as part of an anti-corruption probe.

The office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption said they suspect Villar, who is FIFA's senior vice president and a UEFA vice president, of having arranged matches for Spain's national team that led to business deals that benefited his son.

The state prosecutor and Spanish police both said that Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and two other soccer officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters and other properties.

Police said the other two men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation's vice president of economic affairs who is also the president of the regional federation for Tenerife, and the secretary of that regional federation. The four men were arrested on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations.

As part of an operation called "Soule," the Guardia Civil's anti-corruption unit said it raided the national federation's headquarters on the outskirts of the Spanish capital, the offices of the regional soccer federation on the island of Tenerife, and "headquarters of businesses and several private homes linked to the arrested individuals."

Police started the probe in early 2016 after a complaint was made by Spain's Higher Council of Sport, the government's sports authority.

The probe led the state prosecutor's office to suspect that Angel Maria Villar "could have arranged matches of the Spanish national team with other national teams, thereby gaining in return contracts for services and other business ventures in benefit of his son."

The prosecutor's office said they suspect that Padron and the secretary of the regional federation of Tenerfe "favored the contraction of business" for their personal benefit.

Inigo Mendez de Vigo, Spain's minister of education, culture and sport, told national television moments after the raids that "in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law."

UEFA said in a statement it is "aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time."

The 67-year-old Villar has been the head of Spain's soccer federation since 1988, overseeing its national team's victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Villar has also been at the heart of FIFA and UEFA politics since the 1990s, and has worked closely with several international soccer leaders who have since been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

His son, Gorka, worked in recent years for South American body CONMEBOL as legal director then as the CEO-like director general for three presidents who were implicated in the American federal investigation. Gorka Villar left CONMEBOL in July 2016.

Angel Maria Villar was a tough midfielder for Athletic Bilbao and Spain before retiring to work as a lawyer and soccer administrator. He was elected to the UEFA executive committee 25 years ago, and to FIFA's ruling committee 19 years ago. He has also been an influential figure in the legal and referees committees of both organizations.

Increasingly seen as a polarizing figure with leadership ambitions, Villar decided against trying to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA president last year.

Before joining CONMEBOL, Gorka Villar was a prominent sports lawyer in Madrid. He helped represent cyclist Alberto Contador in a failed appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against losing the 2010 Tour de France title after a positive doping test.

Wilson reported from Barcelona. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.</s>MADRID (AP) - Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar was arrested Tuesday along with his son and two more federation executives as part of an anti-corruption probe.

The office of the state prosecutor in charge of anti-corruption said they suspect Villar, who is FIFA’s senior vice president and a UEFA vice president, of having arranged matches for Spain’s national team that led to business deals that benefited his son.

The state prosecutor and Spanish police both said that Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and two other soccer officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters and other properties.

Two uniformed policeman guarded the entrance to the Spanish Football Federation as staff came in and out of the offices near the training grounds for Spain’s national teams in Las Rozas, just outside Madrid.

The other two men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation’s vice president of economic affairs who is also the president of the regional federation for Tenerife, and the secretary of that regional federation. The four men were arrested on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations.

“We have taken note of the media reports concerning the situation of Mr. Villar Llona,” FIFA said in a statement. “As the matter seems to be linked to internal affairs of the Spanish Football Association, for the time being we kindly refer you to them for further details.”

As part of an operation called “Soule,” the Guardia Civil’s anti-corruption unit said it raided the national federation’s headquarters, the offices of the regional soccer federation on the island of Tenerife, and “headquarters of businesses and several private homes linked to the arrested individuals.”

Police started the probe in early 2016 after a complaint was made by Spain’s Higher Council of Sport, the government’s sports authority.

The probe led the state prosecutor’s office to suspect that Angel Maria Villar “could have arranged matches of the Spanish national team with other national teams, thereby gaining in return contracts for services and other business ventures in benefit of his son.”

The prosecutor’s office said they suspect that Padron and the secretary of the regional federation of Tenerfe “favored the contraction of business” for their personal benefit.

Inigo Mendez de Vigo, Spain’s minister of education, culture and sport, told national television moments after the raids that “in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law.”

Calls made by The Associated Press to both the Spanish Football Federation and the regional soccer federation of Tenerife went unanswered.

UEFA said in a statement it is “aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time.” The Higher Council of Sport said it will “use everything in its means to ensure that competitions are not affected” by the arrests.

The 67-year-old Villar has been the head of Spain’s soccer federation since 1988, overseeing its national team’s victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Villar has also been at the heart of FIFA and UEFA politics since the 1990s, and has worked closely with several international soccer leaders who have since been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

His son, Gorka, worked in recent years for South American body CONMEBOL as legal director then as the CEO-like director general for three presidents who were implicated in the American federal investigation. Gorka Villar left CONMEBOL in July 2016.

Angel Maria Villar was a tough midfielder for Athletic Bilbao and Spain before retiring to work as a lawyer and soccer administrator. He was elected to the UEFA executive committee 25 years ago, and to FIFA’s ruling committee 19 years ago. He has also been an influential figure in the legal and referees committees of both organizations.

In the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests, Angel Maria Villar led the Spain-Portugal bid which the FIFA ethics committee briefly investigated in 2010 for allegedly arranging a voting pact involving South American voters to trade support with Qatar’s bid. Russia won the 2018 contest.

Villar’s conduct in a subsequent wider probe of the bids was singled out in a report by then-FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia.

“He (Villar) was not willing to discuss the facts and circumstances of the case,” Garcia wrote in a 2014 report that was published last month. “Moreover, his tone and manner were deeply disturbing, as the audio recording of the interview … makes evident.”

Increasingly seen as a polarizing figure with leadership ambitions, Villar decided against trying to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA president last year.

Before joining CONMEBOL, Gorka Villar was a prominent sports lawyer in Madrid. He helped represent cyclist Alberto Contador in a failed appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against losing the 2010 Tour de France title after a positive doping test.

The arrests are the latest step taken by Spain to crack down on financial wrongdoing in soccer.

Last year, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and his father were found guilty of tax fraud, and in recent weeks prosecutors have opened tax fraud investigations into several others, including Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and former Madrid coach Jose Mourinho. Both Ronaldo and Mourinho deny cheating on their taxes.

Wilson reported from Barcelona. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva and AP photographer Francisco Seco in Las Rozas, Spain, contributed to this report.</s>Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar was arrested Tuesday along with his son and three more federation executives as part of an anti-corruption probe.

Spain's Guardia Civil said in a statement that Villar, his son Gorka Villar, and three other soccer officials were detained while raids were carried out at the federation headquarters.

Villar is also a senior vice president of FIFA and senior vice president of UEFA.

Police said the other three men who were arrested were Juan Padron, the federation's vice president of economic affairs, and the president and the secretary of the regional federation for Tenerife.

Police said the five men were arrested on charges of improper management, misappropriation of funds, corruption and falsifying documents as part of a probe into the finances of the federations. The raids were carried out by the Guardia Civil's anti-corruption unit as part of an operation called "SOULE."

Inigo Mendez de Vigo, Spain's minister of education, culture and sport, told national television moments after the raids that "in Spain the laws are enforced, the laws are the same for all, and nobody, nobody is above the law."

UEFA said in a statement it is "aware of the reports regarding Mr. Villar Llona. We have no comment to make at this time."

The 67-year-old Villar has been the head of Spain's soccer federation since 1988, overseeing its national team's victories in the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Villar has also been at the heart of FIFA and UEFA politics since the 1990s, and has worked closely with several international soccer leaders who have since been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

His son, Gorka, worked in recent years for South American body CONMEBOL as legal director then the CEO-like director general for three presidents who were implicated in the American federal investigation. Gorka Villar left CONMERBOL in July 2016.

Angel Maria Villar was a tough midfielder for Athletic Bilbao and Spain before retiring to work as a lawyer and soccer administrator. He was elected to the UEFA executive committee 25 years ago, and FIFA's ruling committee 19 years ago. He has also been an influential figure in the legal and referees committees of both organizations.

Increasingly seen as a polarizing figure with leadership ambitions, Villar decided against trying to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA president last year.

Before joining CONMEBOL, Gorka Villar was a prominent sports lawyer in Madrid. He helped represent cyclist Alberto Contador in a failed appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against losing the 2010 Tour de France title after a positive doping test.
The President of Spanish Football Federation and Vicepresident of FIFA and UEFA, Ángel María Villar, is arrested with his son amid a corruption scandal.