Spanish police searched more than ten buildings on Wednesday, including the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid and a home in Granada owned by its former president, Luis Rubiales, as part of an investigation into corruption and money laundering relating to the decision to play the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. At least seven people were arrested, including five in Madrid and two in Granada, but no information on their identities was released. However, the Spanish Civil Guard said ad Associated Press that Rubiales is under investigation but has not been arrested.
In 2019 the RFEF signed a 120 million euro agreement with the Saudi authorities to have the Spanish Super Cup played in Saudi Arabia for at least three years (in recent years other European football federations have also done so, including Italy). Since 2022, Spanish authorities have been investigating various people involved in the deal,
including Rubiales and former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué, who according to some wiretaps had made illicit deals worth millions of euros. Both denied the accusations.
In recent months there has been talk about Rubiales especially due to the controversy relating to a non-consensual kiss he gave to the Spanish national footballer Jennifer Hermoso during the awards ceremony of the last Women’s Football World Cup, won by Spain. Due to the criticism and pressure he received, Rubiales resigned from his roles as vice-president of UEFA and president of the RFEF last September.
2024-03-20 21:28:37
#Spain #buildings #linked #Football #Association #searched #part #investigation #corruption #money #laundering
:format(url)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/lescoopsdelinformation/66V62VEMR5BZ5AN3TSXUOO7R2Y.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
