The president of the Catalan Football Federation (FCF), Joan Soteras Vigo (Sabadell, 1948), says that he has already become accustomed to living on a roller coaster of scandals surrounding the Catalan and Spanish Federations (RFEF). Nothing scares Soteras. He is clear about what is behind the searches at the FCF headquarters and the electoral challenges. He also assures that if Pedro Rocha wins the RFEF elections there will be more equality.
How are you personally experiencing everything that is happening in the RFEF and the FCF?
The body gets used to what you give it. I’ve gotten used to problems. I will finish, if they let me, the three years of my mandate. And if I see that they continue to put stones in my way and that they continue to disrespect me, I will run for another four years.
Who disrespects you?
They are always the same. Those who want to preside and dominate the FCF at any price. I am talking about the candidate Juanjo Isern and also the General Secretary of the FCF, Oriol Camacho.
Start with Juanjo Isern, who has returned to contest the elections for the second time.
To win elections you have to have the trust of the Catalan clubs. That hasn’t happened to him. If I lose them I will not contest them and I will go home. Isern is a sinister character. And he wants to be president to cover up everything that implicates him in the Soule case, the judicial operation that investigates federal corruption plots and that led to the removal of the former president of the RFEF, Ángel María Villar, from office in 2017.
What does it imply, according to you?
There are minutes that reflect that Isern was appointed head of infrastructure at the FCF in 2015. He spent two years and they were the most turbulent with pharaonic works assigned to Mr. Contreras’ company, which did not have a single worker. Isern testified at the National Court and did not tell the truth about the awarding of those works, a decision made by Andreu Subies. He wanted to return to the FCF to cover it up.
Does this also involve Mr. Camacho?
Yes. There have been requests from the National Court and this man sent documentation with a sheet of paper covering the accused and saying that nothing was happening. In November, with the last requirement, we decided that the general management led by José Miguel Calle should take action on the matter. We sent 200 pages with the minutes proving that their statements were false. When Mr. Camacho found out, he told us that we had left him “with his ass in the air.” Camacho is on medical leave. But he continues to receive 160,000 euros annually from the FCF. And he has asked to be a protected witness.
Mr. Camacho sent a letter to the Generalitat of Catalonia. It says the following: “I was seriously conditioned in the exercise of my powers by the president, Mr. Joan Soteras, and its general director, Mr. José Miguel Calle, who designed a strategy to put human, material and economic resources of the FCF in favor of the former’s candidacy, engaging in allegedly criminal activities in the last elections”.
Fake. The objective is to cover up everything he signed during the time he was secretary of Subies. He has reported that we raised the salaries of six people very close to me for being at the voting tables on February 13, 2023. This is not true. We raised the salaries of 15 people. All the increases were justified because it was due to greater responsibility, not because of being at the polling station. He has confronted us with the Generalitat, the General Secretariat of Sports, the Catalan Sports Court and even denounced this Court for prevarication before the TSJ.
What will you do to get closer to the Generalitat of Catalonia now?
I have sent a letter requesting a meeting to explain my position. I await a response.
At the beginning of March, the FCF offices were searched. They are looking for evidence of document falsification and disloyal administration in the last elections.
I wish the Mossos d’Esquadra had had the same energy as when they robbed us on December 31 to take documents from the Soule case. The Mossos should look at why they made a hole in the wall and why they entered my office and that of Mr. Calle. Curiously, they did not enter Mr. Camacho’s, who is the one who has the most information.
Do you have contact with former president Luis Rubiales?
No. The last time I spoke to him was six months ago.
Did you know that Gruconsa, a construction company from La Cartuja, was the vehicle for alleged bribes for Rubiales?
Of course not. It is corruption. If so, it is outrageous.
And business in Arabia?
No one has found anything with Arabia in five years. We’ll see if they get it when the contract ends. Or maybe nothing has happened. Arabia has only brought modest benefits to football with 16 million.
You were one of those who applauded Rubiales when he said he would not resign. Has anything been learned from all this?
Mr. Rubiales had helped a lot in Catalonia and that is why I did not react as I should. We have learnt a lot. The players stood firm with a series of reasons. Mr. Rocha, president of the management company, has liquidated people that until now seemed impossible.
Are they decisions that are made because they have to or do you think there really is more awareness?
It is very difficult to change the inertia of recent years.
The order that regulates electoral processes in federations for the effective equality of men and women has been changed in the BOE. In the Spanish territories there are 19 presidents. They are all men…
In the RFEF this law can only be applied when there is an elected president. The rest must try to comply with the law. In Catalonia today there is more equality. There are 9% of female presidents.
You support Pedro Rocha. Do you think that the continuity option is what the RFEF needs?
Mr. Rubiales put it how he could have put another vice president. But he has nothing to do with it. He is a person of integrity.
What guarantees do you have?
Many. Among them the endorsement of LaLiga. It is better for them to go together.
So, if Rocha wins, will there be alliances with Tebas to play League games outside of Spain?
If the Spanish Super Cup is played in Saudi Arabia, why can’t the League do it? The calendar doesn’t load, there’s just a scroll out. Whether Arabia, Miami or wherever you consider. Clubs travel abroad when it suits them financially, right?
Carlos Herrera and Eva Parera are also running for election. Do you give them any options?
They know the requirements and that they must present 15% of their guarantees. If they have them, go ahead. I know Carlos Herrera. It is outstanding. I don’t know Mrs. Parera.
The 2030 World Cup is on the horizon along with Portugal and Morocco. Do you fear that all this could impact Spain’s weight?
I don’t think so. This issue has been discussed with FIFA and it is waiting for the elections to be held to normalize the situation. We have to get to work because Morocco can gain ground.
Can you guarantee that there will be two headquarters in Catalonia?
If I haven’t been fooled, yes.
Will the final be at the Bernabéu or the Camp Nou?
It is not known, Morocco also wants it.
Why doesn’t the Spanish women’s team play in Catalonia?
There are some expenses that, by law, City Councils, Governments or Provincial Councils must assume. Nobody wants to pay here. The final of the Queen’s Cup is played in La Romareda because they contribute 300,000 euros.
