Spanish Federation Alters 2030 World Cup Scores for San Sebastian-Vigo
Spanish Football Federation Changes Stadium Scores for 2030 World cup
Table of Contents
A newspaper reports accessing Excel files showing the Celta Vigo stadium initially ahead of Anoeta, but the file was changed within 48 hours.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) allegedly altered scores for the 2030 World Cup stadium selections, replacing Vigo with San Sebastian, according to a report.
A newspaper detailed the alleged changes regarding the stadiums under consideration for the 2030 World Cup:
The joint candidacy team of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco evaluated Spanish stadiums at a meeting on June 25, 2024. An excel file from that meeting ranked 11 stadiums. Celta Vigo’s stadium initially scored 10,200.04 points, surpassing Anoeta (Real Sociedad’s stadium in San Sebastian), which had 10,122.6 points. However, the evaluation team reportedly changed the Excel file within 48 hours, increasing Anoeta’s score to 10,602.6 points. This pushed Vigo to 12th place, eliminating it from consideration. María Tato, a member of the International RFEF area and involved with the 2030 World Cup, received both versions of the excel document on June 27 at 3:16 p.m.
The report further claims that Vigo’s inclusion in the RFEF’s considerations was confirmed by an email from Tato to Rafael Louzán, then vice president, on June 26, the day after the meeting. The email indicated the executive wanted to favor locations near the border of two countries, a criterion met only by Vigo.
Despite this, on June 28, a revised ranking favoring anoeta was sent to the executive committee members for the World Cup candidacy, discarding the initial version that favored Vigo. An email sent at 12:43 p.m. stated,
According to our calculations, there are three candidates who are not evaluated as they have not signed fundamental requirements of FIFA, such as the agreement on the stage or the negotiation of clauses. Therefore, Vigo would have a lower score.Several weeks later, the RFEF published the final list. The same day, the RFEF emailed the mayor of Vigo, informing him that the city would not host the World Cup.The mayor requested the criteria for the exclusion be made public. Louzán stated thatnot to publish the ranking was a technical decision to which more than 20 people have workedand that the institutionis not a public administration that is forced to provide those data.
Spanish Football Federation Stadium Controversy: What Happened wiht the 2030 World Cup Bids?
Introduction: The Allegations
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) faced accusations of manipulating stadium scores during the selection process for the 2030 World Cup bids. This article will delve into the specifics of these allegations, providing a clear and concise overview of the situation.
Key Questions and Answers
What Exactly is the RFEF?
The Royal Spanish football Federation (RFEF) is the governing body for football in Spain.It is indeed responsible for overseeing both the men’s and women’s national teams and all football-related activities within the country.
What are the Main Allegations Against the RFEF?
The primary accusation revolves around the manipulation of stadium evaluation scores submitted for the 2030 World Cup.
Specifically, it’s alleged that the RFEF altered the ranking of stadiums to favor certain locations over others.
What Happened with the Stadium Rankings?
- Initial Rankings: On June 25, 2024, a meeting evaluated 11 Spanish stadiums. An Excel file from this meeting showed Celta Vigo’s stadium with a score of 10,200.04 points, ahead of Anoeta (Real Sociedad’s stadium) wich scored 10,122.6 points.
- Alleged Changes: Within 48 hours of the initial evaluation, the Excel file was reportedly changed.Anoeta’s score was increased to 10,602.6 points. This resulted in Vigo’s stadium being pushed down to 12th place, eliminating it from consideration.
- Confirmation of Initial Preference: An email from María Tato, a member of the International RFEF area, to then-vice president Rafael Louzán on June 26, confirmed Vigo’s inclusion. This email indicated a preference for locations near a border, a factor that favored Vigo.
- Final Revised Ranking: On June 28, a revised ranking that favored Anoeta was sent to the executive committee. An email explained that Vigo’s lower score was due to not meeting FIFA’s fundamental requirements.
- Vigo’s Exclusion and Response: Several weeks later, the RFEF published it’s final list. The mayor of Vigo was informed that the city would not host the World Cup and requested the criteria for exclusion. Louzán stated that the decision not to publish the ranking was a “technical decision,” and the institution wasn’t obligated to release that data.
What Stadiums Were Involved?
celta vigo Stadium: Initially ranked higher in the evaluation.
Anoeta (Real Sociedad’s stadium): Initially ranked lower but had its score revised upwards.
Why Were the Changes Considered Suspicious?
The revisions raised concerns because they seemed to undermine the initial evaluation criteria and potentially manipulated the results to favor specific stadiums. The timing of the changes and the lack of clarity surrounding the decision-making process further fueled these suspicions.
Were Ther Any Justifications for the Changes?
According to an email sent to the executive committee, the revised ranking was due to Vigo’s failure to meet fundamental FIFA requirements. Though, the lack of public explanation for the changes and the initial preference for Vigo raised questions about these justifications.
Summary of Key Events and Scores
| Event | Date | Stadium | Initial Score | Revised Score | Outcome |
| ——————————— | ————– | ———————– | ————- | ————- | ——————————- |
| Stadium Evaluations | June 25, 2024 | Celta Vigo | 10,200.04 | - | Initially considered |
| Stadium Evaluations | June 25, 2024 | anoeta | 10,122.6 | 10,602.6 | Moved up in ranking |
| Alleged Score Changes | Within 48 hours| Both | – | – | Celta Vigo excluded |
| Ranking sent to Executive Commitee | June 28, 2024 | Anoeta Favored | – | - | Vigo stated not to be considered |
Conclusion
The allegations against the RFEF regarding the 2030 World Cup stadium selections have raised meaningful questions about the fairness and transparency of the bidding process. These developments highlight the importance of accountability and adherence to established criteria in such high-profile international events.