THE SPANISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION HAS APPOINTED ROCHA AS PRESIDENT.

Pedro Rocha was chosen head of the Spanish football federation on Friday, succeeding disgraced former boss Luis Rubiales, who resigned in September.

Rocha, who is presently under investigation as part of a federation-related corruption case, had occupied the post on an interim basis and was left as the sole contender for the May election.

The Spanish government decided to monitor the scandal-plagued organization “in response to the federation’s crisis” this week.

“Pedro Rocha has today been proclaimed the new president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after having received the support of the majority of the assembly members of this institution that governs Spanish football,” according to a statement issued by the federation.

“This was agreed by the electoral commission, which met this morning.”

When the Spanish government’s National Sports Council (CSD) met Thursday to establish a committee to oversee the federation, it did not suspend Rocha, allowing the RFEF to designate the 69-year-old as chief.

Spain’s top sports court issued a report stating that the RFEF, chaired by Rocha on an interim basis after Rubiales left, made choices “beyond its remit” during that time.

The sport court’s report prompted Thursday’s CSD decision to oversee the federation.

FIFA and UEFA, the world and European football governing organizations, released a statement on Thursday expressing “great concern” over the situation surrounding the RFEF.

“FIFA and UEFA will seek additional information to assess the extent to which the CSD’s appointment (of the committee)… may affect the RFEF’s obligation to manage its affairs independently and without undue government interference,” they added in a statement.

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will jointly host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Rubiales, former RFEF president, resigned last year after his forced kiss on the lips of Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso generated global anger.

Rubiales and his former vice-president, Rocha, are also being probed for corruption.