Royal Spanish Football Federation

Professional services

Spain's national football governing body, responsible for representative teams, national competitions, refereeing, grassroots development, and Spain's relationship with FIFA and UEFA.

Last updated October 5, 2026

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Overview

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol, or RFEF) is Spain's national governing body for association football. Established in 1909 and affiliated with FIFA and UEFA, it administers the sport across the country in coordination with Spain's regional football federations, professional competition organizers, clubs, players, coaches, referees, and public authorities. The federation's most visible responsibility is the organization and representation of Spain's national teams. Its senior men's team won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship in 1964, 2008, and 2012. The women's senior team won the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, while Spain has also developed successful youth and futsal programs. The RFEF manages national-team operations, appoints or contracts coaching staffs, coordinates international fixtures, and oversees eligibility and disciplinary matters within the framework of Spanish and international regulations. Domestically, the RFEF organizes or regulates several national competitions, most notably the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España, alongside competitions in the lower divisions, women's football, youth football, futsal, and amateur football. The top two men's professional divisions are operated by LaLiga, but the RFEF remains the national federation and has regulatory, disciplinary, licensing, cup-competition, referee-development, and representative functions. It also administers the Spanish football pyramid in conjunction with territorial federations and other football institutions. The federation is headquartered at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas de Madrid. Its institutional role combines sports administration, competition delivery, technical development, referee education, safeguarding, coach education, and international representation. It is not a conventional commercial brand: it is a membership-based sports authority whose public profile derives largely from the national teams, major cup competitions, official competitions, and the prestige of the Spanish football system. RFEF governance has periodically attracted intense public and governmental scrutiny. The 2023 World Cup medal-ceremony controversy involving then-president Luis Rubiales and player Jenni Hermoso produced investigations, disciplinary proceedings, leadership change, and debate about institutional culture and athlete protection. In 2024, Spanish authorities also investigated alleged irregularities connected with federation contracts during the period of former president Luis Rubiales. These episodes led to temporary and permanent changes in senior leadership and intensified scrutiny of the federation's governance, procurement, transparency, and safeguarding practices. Pedro Rocha served as an interim and then elected president for a short period in 2024, while Rafael Louzán was elected president in December 2024.

History

The Royal Spanish Football Federation was established in 1909 as Spain's national association-football authority. It became the institution responsible for coordinating Spanish football's international representation and for administering national competitions and regulations. The federation's work developed alongside the growth of regional football associations, professional clubs, national-team football, and Spain's participation in FIFA and UEFA structures. During the twentieth century, the RFEF consolidated its role in national-team administration, domestic cup football, referee organization, player registration, disciplinary procedures, and technical development. The Copa del Rey became the principal competition directly associated with the federation, while the expanding professional league system created a division of responsibilities between the federation and the organization representing professional clubs. The RFEF continued to govern the wider football pyramid, including lower divisions, women's football, youth football, futsal, and amateur competitions. Spain's national teams became increasingly successful in the twenty-first century. The men's senior team won the European Championship in 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the European Championship again in 2012. This period made the federation's sporting and commercial profile significantly more prominent internationally. The women's program also expanded through investment, professionalization, youth development, and improved competition structures, culminating in Spain's first senior women's World Cup title in 2023. Spain's futsal and youth teams have likewise been important parts of its international identity. The RFEF's headquarters at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas serves as a national training, administrative, and technical center. Beyond organizing matches, the federation sets competition rules, manages refereeing structures, supports coaching and player development, works with territorial federations, and represents Spanish football in international bodies. Its role is therefore broader than that of a team operator or event promoter: it is the central coordinating authority for Spanish association football. The federation has also faced repeated governance controversies. Under president Ángel María Villar, Spanish and international authorities investigated alleged corruption and misuse of federation resources; Villar was arrested in 2017 and later left office. Luis Rubiales became president in 2018 and pursued commercial and institutional initiatives, including the relocation of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. In 2023, the federation became the focus of worldwide criticism after Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the Women's World Cup medal ceremony. Rubiales initially refused to resign, but FIFA suspended him and he subsequently resigned. The episode prompted legal, sporting, political, and cultural scrutiny of the federation and of safeguarding conditions in Spanish women's football. In 2024, Spanish investigators examined alleged irregularities in federation contracts during the Rubiales era, including the Super Cup arrangement and other procurement matters. Pedro Rocha led the organization during the transition, while the federation also navigated institutional disputes and concerns about electoral governance. Rafael Louzán was elected president in December 2024. The modern RFEF therefore combines a strong sporting legacy and internationally successful teams with an ongoing need to strengthen transparency, athlete protection, procurement controls, and institutional accountability.

2024
Rafael Louzán elected president
[11]Rafael Louzán elected presidentreuters.com
Louzán was elected after the federation's leadership crisis and interim administration.
2023
Spain wins the Women's World Cup
[4]FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023fifa.com
The senior women's national team won its first FIFA Women's World Cup.
2018
Luis Rubiales becomes president
[10]Luis Rubiales becomes presidentreuters.com
Rubiales succeeded Ángel María Villar as president of the federation.
2012
Spain retains the European Championship
[9]Spain retains the European Championshipuefa.com
Spain became the first team to win consecutive European Championships around a World Cup title.
2010
Spain wins the FIFA World Cup
[8]Spain wins the FIFA World Cupfifa.com
Spain won its first men's World Cup by defeating the Netherlands in the final.
2008
Spain wins UEFA Euro 2008
[7]Spain wins UEFA Euro 2008uefa.com
Spain defeated Germany in the final, beginning a major period of international success.
1964
Spain wins its first European Championship
[6]Spain wins its first European Championshipuefa.com
Spain's men's national team won the European Nations' Cup on home soil.
1909
Federation established
[1]Royal Spanish Football Federation official websiterfef.es
The national football federation was founded to coordinate organized football in Spain and represent the country internationally.

Products and positioning

National football governing body and nonprofit sports federation

National-team sport
Spain national football teams
The RFEF administers Spain's senior and youth representative teams, including competition entry, player eligibility, coaching appointments, international fixtures, training operations, and tournament logistics. The portfolio covers men's and women's football as well as age-group national teams.
Domestic cup competition · 1903
Copa del Rey
Spain's principal national men's knockout cup competition is organized under the federation's authority. It brings clubs from different levels of the Spanish football pyramid into a single tournament and provides a major national platform outside league competition.
Domestic super cup · 1982
Supercopa de España
The Spanish Super Cup is a federation-administered competition involving leading domestic clubs. Its expanded format and international hosting strategy increased the event's commercial importance while also becoming a focus of public and legal scrutiny during the Rubiales era.
Sports administration
Refereeing and technical development
The federation supports referee recruitment, education, appointments, and competition officiating, alongside coach education, technical programs, grassroots development, and national football standards.

Controversies

2024
Operation Brody contract investigation
Spanish law-enforcement authorities investigated alleged irregularities in RFEF-related contracts, including arrangements connected with the Spanish Super Cup and the federation's commercial activity.
Source
2023
Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso medal-ceremony controversy
Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup medal ceremony. FIFA disciplinary action, Spanish legal proceedings, player protests, and public condemnation followed; Rubiales resigned and was later sanctioned by FIFA.
Source
2017
Villar corruption investigation
RFEF president Ángel María Villar was arrested in a Spanish investigation into alleged corruption, misuse of federation funds, and improper commercial arrangements. He subsequently left the presidency.
Source

2023Spain women's football World Cup program
Spain · International
The RFEF's women's national-team program culminated in Spain winning the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Outcome. Spain won the tournament, although the achievement was overshadowed institutionally by the subsequent medal-ceremony controversy and players' protests.
Source
2023Se Acabó campaign and player boycott
Spain · International
Spanish women's national-team players used the phrase “Se Acabó” to express opposition to unwanted conduct, institutional treatment, and broader conditions within the national setup after the World Cup ceremony.
Outcome. The dispute led to changes in federation leadership and coaching arrangements and contributed to wider debate about safeguarding and equality in football.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Institutional reorganization after investigationsStrategy
Background
The federation faced contract investigations, leadership disputes, and pressure to improve transparency after the Rubiales era.
Action taken
RFEF operated under interim leadership before electing Rafael Louzán as president in December 2024.
Aftermath
The new administration inherited ongoing legal, regulatory, and reputational challenges.
Source
2023
Leadership transition after the World Cup controversyOther
Background
FIFA disciplinary action and sustained criticism followed the conduct of president Luis Rubiales at the Women's World Cup final ceremony.
Action taken
Rubiales resigned, Pedro Rocha assumed interim leadership, and the federation later held an election.
Aftermath
The transition triggered scrutiny of governance, athlete safeguarding, federation elections, and the treatment of the women's national team.
Source
2019
Move the Spanish Super Cup to an expanded international formatStrategy
Background
The federation sought to increase the Super Cup's sporting and commercial value by expanding the competition and hosting it outside Spain.
Action taken
RFEF adopted a four-team format and arranged editions in Saudi Arabia.
Aftermath
The format generated additional international visibility and revenue but became politically and legally controversial because of the commercial agreement and governance allegations surrounding the Rubiales administration.
Source

Recent events

2024
Rafael Louzán elected RFEF president[11]Rafael Louzán elected presidentreuters.com
Leadership change
Rafael Louzán was elected to lead the federation after the period of institutional instability following the Rubiales controversy and the interim presidency of Pedro Rocha.
2023
Spain wins the FIFA Women's World Cup[4]FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023fifa.com
Other
Spain defeated England in the final to win its first senior women's World Cup, giving the federation one of its most significant sporting achievements.

Sources15 sources

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