The niece of Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar has been found dead after a botched abduction and ransom attempt, Spain's foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday.
Maria Villar Galaz, 36, was kidnapped on Sept. 13 and was forced to withdraw money from bank machines and demand money from her family to ensure her release, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo told radio station Onda Cero.
Galaz's husband and cousin had travelled to Mexico along with two Spanish police officers to try to secure her release but her body was then identified at a morgue in the central city of Toluca about 60 kilometres (40 miles) southwest of Mexico City.
"An amount was paid, although much lower than what they had asked," the minister said. "We were convinced that it would be a matter of time before she appeared safe and sound. Unfortunately things did not turn out that way.
"It is very sad news and totally unexpected.
"I suppose that Angel Maria Villar knows what has happened. I have not spoken with him, although I have tried."
Villar had been a candidate for the UEFA presidency but withdrew from the race prior to the election earlier this month.