Former President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, is currently under investigation for his involvement in the decision to move the Spanish Supercopa to Saudi Arabia. Despite denying any personal business connections to Saudi Arabia, Rubiales is facing allegations of corruption and illegal commissions related to the deal with the Saudi sports authority.
Rubiales has vehemently denied the accusations against him, stating that he has never had any business interests in Saudi Arabia and that the reports of his land ownership in the country are false. He has also denied receiving any illegal commissions during his tenure as the head of the Spanish FA, claiming that his financial assets are the result of his own hard work and savings.
Former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué’s sports entertainment company, Kosmos, was involved in the deal between the federation and Saudi Arabia. Rubiales clarified that it was Kosmos that brought the offer from Saudi Arabia and that they chose it over other options. He also refuted claims of receiving bribes from Piqué, stating that no illicit exchanges took place between them.
The investigation into the deal between the Spanish FA and Saudi Arabia was prompted by leaked audio recordings of conversations between Rubiales and Piqué discussing potential commissions. Spanish authorities have conducted raids on properties belonging to Rubiales and the RFEF offices, leading to multiple arrests and further scrutiny of Rubiales’ actions.
In addition to the corruption probe, Rubiales is facing a separate case involving an unsolicited kiss he gave to player Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup final. Prosecutors are seeking a 2-1/2-year jail term for Rubiales for this incident, which ultimately led to his resignation from the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation in September.
The allegations against Luis Rubiales have cast a shadow over his reputation and raised serious questions about integrity within the Spanish football establishment. As the investigations continue, Rubiales maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing in both the dealings with Saudi Arabia and the incident with Jenni Hermoso. Only time will tell the outcome of these legal battles and the impact they will have on Rubiales’ legacy in Spanish football.
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