Spanish authorities conducted searches at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and an apartment owned by former RFEF head Luis Rubiales as part of a corruption investigation related to the relocation of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. The probe, initiated in June 2022, is examining whether Rubiales engaged in improper management practices when the RFEF struck a deal with Gerard Pique's Kosmos firm to move the tournament.
Rubiales, who has denied any wrongdoing, has been at the center of controversy for expanding the Super Cup format to include four teams, changing the timing of the event from August to January, and hosting it outside Spain. In 2019, the RFEF signed a lucrative three-year agreement with the Saudi sports authority to hold the competition in Saudi Arabia.
Judge Delia Rodrigo Diaz authorized the recent searches at the RFEF's Madrid office and Rubiales' residence in Granada as part of the ongoing investigation into potential corruption, mismanagement of assets, and money laundering. The operation, which involved a total of 11 searches across Spain, is expected to result in the arrest of seven individuals.
During the searches, the Spain national team was practicing on the adjacent pitch while RFEF staff were barred from entering the headquarters. Media personnel covering the team's activities were closely monitored as police conducted the searches, which extended into the afternoon.
Images from the search at Rubiales' apartment in Granada showed Civil Guard officers carrying out items labeled with his name. Rubiales, who resigned last year following a controversial incident involving a player, has provided testimony to the investigating judge, who has recommended that the case proceed to trial.
Rubiales' tenure as RFEF president was marked by various controversies, including the abrupt dismissal of Spain's national team manager just before the 2018 World Cup. The investigation into the Super Cup deal underscores the ongoing scrutiny of governance and financial practices within Spanish football.
