Spanish football chief Angel Maria Villar Llona quits UEFA role following arrest
Villar Llona was UEFA’s acting president for almost a year following Michel Platini’s downfall.
Spanish football chief Angel Maria Villar Llona has quit as first vice-president of UEFA following last week’s arrest in Spain on alleged corruption charges.
The 67-year-old Villar Llona, one of the most powerful men in world football over the last two decades, is currently in custody with several other Spanish officials, including his son Gorka.
In a statement, UEFA said: “On 26 July, 2017, Mr Angel Maria Villar Llona tendered his resignation as vice-president of UEFA and member of the UEFA executive committee with immediate effect.
“Following his resignation, Mr Villar Llona will no longer have any official functions at our organisation.
“UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has accepted Mr Villar Llona’s letter of resignation and has thanked him for his many years of service to European football.
“In view of the ongoing court proceedings in Spain, we have no further comments to make on this matter.”
Villar Llona’s decision follows Tuesday’s announcement by the Spanish Football Federation that it has suspended his presidency for a year.
There has been no word yet on his status at FIFA, where he has been a vice-president since 2002 and is currently the organisation’s senior vice-president.
Villar Llona was UEFA’s acting president for almost a year following Michel Platini’s 2015 downfall, until Ceferin’s appointment in September 2016.
