The Spanish government announced on Friday that Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will not, after all, attend Sunday's World Cup final in Johannesburg between Spain and the Netherlands, dpa reported.
The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, after Friday's cabinet meeting.
Zapatero had said on Wednesday, straight after the semi-final defeat of Germany, that he would try to go to the final but that "it might be difficult to fit it into my agenda."
Fernandez de la Vega said that no member of the government would go to South Africa. Instead, Spain will be "well represented by members of the royal family."
Earlier on Friday the royal palace announced that Crown Prince Felipe, heir to the throne, and his wife, Princess Letizia, would fly out for the final. In Johannesburg they will meet up with Queen Sofia, who watched Spain beat Germany 1-0 on Wednesday.
King Juan Carlos will not attend because he is still recovering from a lung operation that he underwent on May 8.