Soccer-Saudi Deal In Graft Spotlight As Spanish Federation And Ex Boss Raided – News18

LAS ROZAS, Spain:Police searched the Spanish Soccer Federation’s (RFEF) headquarters and an condominium belonging to its former President Luis Rubiales on Wednesday and arrested seven individuals in a corruption probe over a multimillion-euro deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. 

A Spanish court docket has been investigating since June 2022 whether or not Rubiales dedicated a criminal offense of improper administration when the RFEF agreed with former Barcelona participant Gerard Pique’s Kosmos agency to maneuver the event, a judicial supply stated. 

Rubiales didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark however he has beforehand denied wrongdoing. The RFEF declined to remark.

Five individuals have been arrested in Madrid and two in Granada in reference to the case, the Spanish Civil Guard advised Reuters, with out giving names or additional particulars.

Rubiales angered Spanish soccer traditionalists by increasing the conflict between the league champions and Copa del Rey winners to a 4-group format, shifting the occasion from August to January and transferring it outdoors Spain.

The RFEF in 2019 agreed a 3-yr deal price a reported 120 million euros ($131 million) with the Saudi sports activities authority to stage the competitors in Saudi Arabia.

Judge Delia Rodrigo Diaz ordered new searches of the RFEF’s Madrid base and Rubiales’ Granada condominium as a part of her investigation, the supply advised Reuters.

The nationwide prosecutor’s workplace stated the probe was in search of corruption in enterprise, improper administration of property and cash-laundering.

Police carried out 11 searches at unspecified places throughout Spain associated to the case. 

As the Civil Guard and undercover brokers searched the places of work of the soccer federation, the Spanish nationwide group have been practising on the adjoining pitch. They face Colombia on Friday in London and Brazil on Tuesday in pleasant matches. 

RFEF employees have been barred from coming into the constructing. Media masking the apply session and interviewing gamers have been saved beneath shut watch as police carried out searches that began at 9:30 a.m. and continued into the afternoon.

An RFEF supply advised Reuters that Rubiales’ house had additionally been searched. Images confirmed Civil Guard officers rising from a Granada metropolis centre condominium with a cardboard field labelled “Luis Rubiales” together with a number of different baggage.

The investigation provides to Rubiales’ authorized woes after he was accused of sexual assault and coercion over his unsolicited kiss on the mouth of participant Jenni Hermoso throughout celebrations after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory final yr.

Rubiales resigned as RFEF president in September and was banned by FIFA from all soccer actions for 3 years.

His turbulent reign as RFEF chief additionally included a shock resolution to sack Spain supervisor Julen Lopetegui two days earlier than their opening 2018 World Cup match.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)