Spanish authorities suspended a vice president of the Football Association, former head of the Catalan branch Andrew Sobes, Tuesday, as part of an investigation on suspicion of embezzlement of funds, according to sources close to the investigation.
Sobies is one of two people arrested in connection with the Soli investigation, which opened early last summer, during which the former Spanish federation president, Angel Maria Villar, was arrested before being released temporarily after paying a bail.
Civil Guard members raided the headquarters of the Catalan Union, of which Sobies was president between 2011 and July 2018, the date of his resignation to become the new vice president of the union Luis Rubiales, who was elected after the arrest of Villar.
The raids have expanded to include players' insurance, according to the same sources.
The authorities are investigating the embezzlement of funds from the players' insurance sent to the Catalan Confederation for Sobies and another former official, Spanish media confirmed that Jose Contreras Arjuna.
The Spanish federation said in a statement that it "fully respects the judiciary's actions after this morning's events," adding that it wants to "demonstrate the necessary respect for the presumption of innocence."
"The Spanish Football Association's commitment to justice is clear, as evidenced by its inclusion in the list of civil parties in the Soli case," he said, calling on the media to "act strictly and responsibly."
Angel Maria Villar was dismissed from the 29-year-old Spanish federation presidency on 22 December by the Administrative Court of Sport, a body of the Spanish government.
Villar was initially dismissed in July 2017 after being held for two weeks.
The Spanish judiciary, the former vice president of the International Federation (FIFA) and the European Union (UEFA), is accused of creating a liner that allowed the funds to be transferred to him and his associates, as well as officials of the regional unions and their branches.
