President of Spanish Football Federation and his son arrested for corruption

Angel Maria Villar Llona, president of the Spanish Football Federation and his son have been arrested as part of a corruption investigation. Mr Villar, a former Spain international footballer who has been president of the association since 1988 was arrested on suspicion of embezzling funds. His son Gorka was among other people also arrested during a number of raids yesterday.

Spain's High Court confirms that one of its investigating magistrates and anti-corruption prosecutors is leading the probe on allegations centred on the falsification of documents and misappropriation of funds, all related to the organising of international football matches.

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.