Spain Get the (Almost) All Clear for Euro 2008

Remember the whole “will Spain be booted out of Euro 2008?” business? The Spanish government were trying to force all sporting organizations to hold elections before the 2008 Olympics, and FIFA saw this as government interference and threated to ban Spain from all international competition. Including Euro 2008.

An over-reaction from FIFA? Unheard of, surely. Arrogance from the Spanish government? I think so. If I was a Spanish voter, I wouldn’t be voting for an administration that nearly deprived me of Euro 2008.

But, finally, the government’s Spanish Sports Council has backed down. They won’t be forcing the Spanish Football Federation to hold early elections.

So now Spanish fans can rest easy. David Villa, Xavi Hernandez and co will almost definitely be playing in Swissaustria this summer. Great news for Spanish supporters obviously, and great news for neutrals too because major international tournaments need to feature top players.

The only people disappointed will be Spain’s Group C rivals Greece, Russia and Sweden, who I’m sure would rather have faced Aaron Hughes, Keith Gillespie and David Healy (good as he is) instead of Sergio Ramos, Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres.