In the current electoral context of the RFEF, futsal has become a crucial yet overlooked aspect amid the National Team’s ongoing crisis. Time is critical, yet no decisive actions have been taken to officially appoint Jesús Velasco as the new coach. While Fede Vidal remains under contract and awaits reassignment within the federation’s structure, the Jerez coach is holding onto his position. While his potential successor is trying to create opportunities ahead of Spain’s upcoming match against Portugal in Oeiras on November 6.
It is confirmed that Javier Orol, the secretary of the international futsal department at the RFEF, emailed several First Division clubs this morning. Providing “sufficient notice” about a list of “potentially callable” players for the national team’s training camp from November 3 to 7 in Sines. This camp is expected to mark Jesús Velasco’s debut as coach, with the selected players presumably chosen by him. However, their final inclusion hinges on the resolution of Fede Vidal’s situation.
National Futsal Committee
The National Futsal Committee has decided to postpone the announcement of the final player list until Friday, November 1. Aligning it with Velasco’s first day at the RFEF and buying time to seek a resolution for the issues plaguing the Spanish futsal program, which were exacerbated by José Miguel Monje’s leadership following the disappointing World Cup in Uzbekistan. Both outgoing and incoming selectors are currently working at Las Rozas Football City.
Following the World Cup disappointment, the pre-list released by the RFEF includes several new names, but notable absences such as captain Raúl Campos, who has announced his retirement from the National Team, and various injured Barça players. Relevo has exclusively revealed many of the players in the pre-selection. From the league champions, Jimbee Cartagena, goalkeeper Chemi, Gonzalo Castejon, and center Pablo Ramírez are included. Unexpectedly, 34-year-old Mario Rivillos has returned from the two-time UEFA Futsal Champions League winners, Palma Futsal. Official notifications have also been made for Esteban Cejudo and Ricardo Mayor from ElPozo Murcia.
undisclosed
The email sent by the RFEF surprised many clubs. Leading them to inquire if they could publicly disclose the pre-call notifications for their players or who prepared the list. The National Futsal Committee has requested confidentiality regarding the names and has not clarified who was responsible for the pre-list. Which includes players like Miquel Feixas, Antonio Pérez, and Eric Martel from Barça, along with Bernat Povill and Marc Tolrá from Santa Coloma Industries. Francisco Paniagua and Diego Sancho from Servigroup Peñiscola are also among the potential call-ups, while Eloy Rojas, Pol Pacheco, and Alberto García from Albali Valdepeñas have been notified. From Movistar Inter, Jesús Herrero, Cecilio Morales, Raúl Gómez, and Javi Minguez are included, with the RFEF closely monitoring José Antonio Raya’s recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The List
Goalkeeper Antonio Navarro and centers Daniel Gabriel and Juan Emilio Gil from El Hidalgo Manzanares Cheeses may also be “potentially callable.” Javier Garcia Moreno ‘Chino’ from Jaén Interior Paradise, a significant absentee from the Uzbekistan list, could make a comeback alongside Dani Zurdo. The pre-list may expand in the coming days, but the final call-up of 15 players for the Portugal match is expected to come from the nearly 30 names revealed by Relevo.
Meanwhile, Palma Futsal and Jimbee Cartagena, the two-time UEFA Futsal Champions League winners and current league champions, respectively, will kick off their European campaigns on Wednesday with the Main Round from October 23 to 26. The Balearic team is aiming for a third continental title, while Jimbee Cartagena will make their debut in the top club competition. Palma Futsal will compete in Son Moix, facing FK Dobovec (Slovenia), MNK Futsal Dinamo (Croatia), and United Galati (Romania) in Group 3. The Cartagenian team will begin their journey in Brussels against the champions from Poland (Rekord Bielsko-Biala), Ukraine (FC Hit Kyiv), and Belgium (RSC Anderlecht).
