Spanish police question former football chief Rubiales over corruption allegations
Former football chief Luis Rubiales was briefly detained by Spanish police on Wednesday in connection with an alleged corruption scandal at the RFEF football federation during his presidency. The 46-year-old was apprehended at Madrid's Barajas airport upon his arrival from the Dominican Republic. However, he was released shortly afterward, according to a spokesperson for the Guardia Civil police.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that Rubiales was escorted off the plane by police and subsequently questioned within the airport premises. His arrest follows a series of raids conducted two weeks prior, which targeted 11 locations, including the RFEF's headquarters in Madrid and Rubiales' residence in Granada, as part of a broader inquiry into suspected corruption and related offenses.
The raids conducted on March 20 were part of an investigation into suspected crimes related to corruption in business dealings, fraudulent administration, and money laundering, according to judicial sources.
Investigators are scrutinizing contracts signed by the RFEF since 2018, including one orchestrated by Rubiales to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
These Super Cup agreements amount to 40 million euros annually ($43.3 million), with the arrangement facilitated by Kosmos, a company owned by former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique.
Guardia Civil police traveled to the Dominican Republic and conducted a search on Monday at the location where Rubiales had been residing. Acting on the orders of the investigating judge, they seized a laptop and a mobile phone during the operation.
The day following the March 20 raids, the RFEF dismissed its legal director Pedro Gonzalez Segura and head of human resources Jose Javier Jimenez. Additionally, the federation terminated its contract with GC Legal, the law firm of Tomas Gonzalez Cueto. All three individuals had been arrested by police during the raids.
Rubiales was compelled to resign as RFEF chief in September after he forcibly kissed Women’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s victory in the Sydney final in August. This incident prompted widespread condemnation, with Rubiales facing trial for the non-consensual kiss, which, under Spanish law, can be classified as sexual assault.
In 2022, prosecutors initiated an investigation into the Super Cup deal following the leak of audio recordings between Rubiales and Pique, where they discussed substantial commissions.
Rubiales consistently defended the legality of relocating the Super Cup to the oil-rich Gulf state. In April 2022, Pique reiterated the legality of the deal, expressing his pride in it.
The Spanish Super Cup was first held in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Although it returned to Spain the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the subsequent three competitions have been hosted in Saudi Arabia.
Pique participated in two Spanish Super Cups with Barcelona in Saudi Arabia before retiring from football in November 2022.
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