Spanish soccer federation's Villar arrested in graft investigation

[July 18, 2017]    MADRID (Reuters) - The head of Spain's soccer federation (RFEF) Angel Maria Villar was arrested on Tuesday after a raid on several offices in Madrid linked to the group as part of an anti-corruption investigation, police said.

Spain's football federation (RFEF) president Angel Maria Villar walks out through a door before the World Cup 2018 Qualifying match between Spain and Liechtenstein at the Reino de Leon stadium in Leon, Spain, September 5, 2016. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso/File photo

Villar's son, named by Spanish media as Gorka, as well as several other soccer executives were arrested on allegations of collusion, fraud and embezzlement, the police said in a statement.

Spain's High Court also confirmed that one of its investigating magistrates and anti-corruption prosecutors were leading the probe.

The RFEF could not be reached for comment. Villar, a member of FIFA's executive committee, has been at the head of the RFEF for nearly 30 years.

(Reporting by Inmaculada Sanz and Sarah White; Editing by Paul Day)

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