Sergio Ramos has rubbished suggestions that 2010 champions Spain could be kicked out of next summer’s World Cup for “political interference”.
Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that FIFA has contacted the Spanish football federation (RFEF) warning it that continued involvement from the centre-right Spanish government in the upcoming election for the football federation’s new president could result in them losing their place at next year’s tournament.
But Ramos, 31, on Friday refuted suggestions Spain’s appearance at next year’s finals was in jeopardy ahead of Real Madrid’s Club World Cup final with Brazil’s Gremio on Saturday night.
“We have played well and I don’t think it will cost us our achievement,” said the 149-times capped defender, behind only former Real teammate Iker Casillas (167) on the country’s all-time appearance list.
“I don’t think we will not play in Russia after all we have done. The results are there, we have won our matches. I don’t think anything can influence us playing there next year.”
La Roja qualified at the beginning of October, having finished top of UEFA Group G, beating out fellow European giants Italy.
The RFEF is currently led on an interim basis by Juan Luis Larrea, after former president Angel Maria Villar was forced to step down on corruption charges.
The government’s National Sports Council have made contact with the RFEF over Villar’s eventual successor and that would be in direct contradiction of FIFA’s strict rules.
FIFA can suspend the membership of any national football team if they judge the association has been influenced by external political pressure.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Football Federation was banned by FIFA due to “undue third-party interference”, while the Kuwait Football Association was suspended between 2015-2017 for similar levels of interference.
