His presidency at Real Madrid coincided with the Spanish Civil War and Sánchez Guerra, a prominent Republican, refused to flee Madrid as it was about to fall into the hands of Francisco Franco. He was captured, imprisoned by supporters of Franco before escaping to Paris where he became a prominent member of the government-in-exile.[2] During the war itself, Sánchez Guerra had little active involvement in the daily management of Real Madrid, acting with non-official presidents Juan José Vallejo and Antonio Ortega (these two presidents were not elected), running things on his behalf.