Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales found himself under police scrutiny upon his return to Spain in connection with a corruption investigation surrounding the relocation of the Spanish Supercopa to Saudi Arabia.
Rubiales, who was abroad in the Dominican Republic on March 21 during raids on his apartment in Granada and the RFEF headquarters in Madrid, had committed to returning to Spain on April 6 as scheduled.
However, he opted to return early, arriving at Madrid-Barajas airport where police awaited his arrival for questioning. Following the interrogation, he was released on the same day.
Although his arrest was not ordered by the presiding judge, Rubiales was taken into custody by the police’s Central Operational Unit department (UCO) for further questioning, according to ESPN sources.
Rubiales’ lawyer, Margrita Crespo, stated that he accompanied officers to a police station, where standard procedures such as reading his rights, fingerprinting, and searching his belongings were conducted. Despite this, Rubiales was not informed of any charges and was allowed to depart without restrictions.
Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing amid allegations that he personally benefited from the deal to take the Supercopa to the Gulf nation, telling La Sexta in an interview due to air on Wednesday that his money is “the product of my work and savings.”
The 2019 agreement to relocate the competition, facilitated by Rubiales and Gerard Piqué’s Kosmos company, initially valued at €120 million ($129.2m), has been extended until 2029.
This decision, which shifted the contest between league champions and Copa del Rey winners to a four-team format, sparked controversy among Spanish football purists.
Concerns were raised about the event’s relocation from August to January and its expansion beyond national borders.
Piqué’s involvement, given his status as an active player at the time, raised eyebrows, but both he and Rubiales asserted the legitimacy of their actions. However, leaked audio messages between the two in June 2022 prompted a Spanish court investigation into potential improper management by Rubiales.
In March, a judge authorized raids on 11 premises, including Rubiales’ property in Granada and the RFEF’s Madrid headquarters, leading to six arrests. While the RFEF suspended several staff members, Kosmos confirmed that no employees were detained or under investigation, and none of the company’s property was searched.
This incident adds to Rubiales’ legal woes following his resignation as RFEF president after a controversial incident involving midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup final in Australia.
FIFA imposed a three-year ban on Rubiales from football-related activities, while Spanish court proceedings recommended trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion, with a potential prison sentence of up to 2.5 years.