The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) will for the second straight year forego its state subsidy, which for 2013 would be $4 million — about 3 percent of its annual budget.
The RFEFcoffers are full thanks to the national team’s phenomenal run in recent years — two Euro and one World Cup title.
“I have to express thanks for the generous gesture on the part of thesoccer federation,” Secretary of State for sport Miguel Cardenal said. “It’s a sacrifice, it’s a significant amount … which will benefit the other [sports] federations.”
Spain’s sports federations, already suffering due to a series of reductions in state subsidies, face a new round of hefty cuts forced on the government by the economic crisis.