Police arrested the head of Spain's soccer federation, throwing the leadership of the sport in the World Cup-winning nation into disarray a year before the next round of the elite championship takes place in Russia.
Federation president Angel Maria Villar, 67, as well as three other people were arrested Tuesday, the Guardia Civil police force said in an emailed statement. The other detainees include one of Villar's sons, the federation's vice chairman for finance, who is also head of the Tenerife soccer federation, and the secretary of the Tenerife federation, according to the statement.
The probe into Villar, who is the second-highest ranking official in world soccer, brings fresh trauma for the sport in Spain seven years after the national side won the World Cup in South Africa. Barcelona star Lionel Messi was handed a suspended 21-month jail term last year for unpaid taxes linked to image rights and Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo also faces accusations he hasn't paid all that he owes in Spanish taxes.