Prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero has insisted that Spain will be at Euro 2008, but also told the Spanish FA (RFEF) they must obey Spanish law.The government have ordered the RFEF and other non-Olympic federations to hold presidential elections before the Beijing Games, a ruling FIFA president Sepp Blatter said could lead to serious consequences.
Blatter declared last month that government interference in the administration of football in Spain could result in the national team and Primera Liga clubs being excluded from international competition.
The RFEF lost their appeal to the courts against the government's ruling, but on March 3 the federation insisted they would not obey the mandate following a vote on the subject by the RFEF's general assembly.
Members voted 116 in favour of holding the election in November while just 26 were opposed.
This led to the government-run Spanish Sports Council (CSD) telling the RFEF that "No institution is above Spanish legislation and the decisions of the court", and that they must abide by the law.
In an interview on Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Zapatero, who is running for re-election when Spaniards go to the polls on Sunday, said he could not envisage a scenario whereby Spain are excluded from Euro 2008, but at the same time the law must be obeyed.
"It is a rule that falls under 1990 legislation and, like all laws, it will be obeyed," he said.
"We are in a democratic state and that is what the constitution establishes. It is the responsibility of the government to make sure laws are obeyed, and they will be obeyed."
Asked to comment on Blatter's threat claiming Spain could be kicked out of the European Championships "at six hours notice", Zapatero said he thought such a situation was highly unlikely.
"Spanish law applies to everyone and it has to be obeyed. That is above and beyond all other problems or the personal opinions of a specific person (Blatter)," he said.
"There are times when you need to tone down your statements somewhat, and that is what happened in the case of Blatter.
"From a legal point of view he (Blatter) is wrong and it is unthinkable that a man in an office can take away from us what we have won on the pitch.
"Things like that do not happen because FIFA and UEFA are serious entities. Spain will be at Euro 2008 because we won the right to be there and I refuse to contemplate any other scenario.
"And furthermore, I hope they do well once there. It's about time they did!"
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