Former President of Spanish Football Federation Arrested in Corruption Probe
Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), has been arrested as part of a corruption investigation. The arrest took place on Wednesday upon his arrival in Madrid from the Dominican Republic. Rubiales is suspected of receiving illegal commissions during the negotiation of a lucrative deal to host the Spanish Super Cup competition in Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail term for him, although Rubiales denies any wrongdoing.
The arrest took place soon after Rubiales stepped off the plane in Madrid. He was taken into a black van with several members of the Civil Guard, but was released shortly afterward. According to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Rubiales might have to appear in court on Thursday to face the charges against him.
This is not the first time Rubiales has faced legal troubles. Last month, while he was in the Dominican Republic, police searched his home. They also conducted searches at the football federation headquarters and made several arrests. These actions were part of an ongoing investigation into corruption within Spanish football.
Additionally, Rubiales is due to go on trial separately for sexual assault charges. This case stems from an incident where he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth after last summer’s World Cup final. Hermoso and her teammates claimed that the kiss was unwanted and demeaning. As a result, Rubiales was forced to resign from his position as president of RFEF. However, he has maintained his innocence throughout the entire ordeal.
The arrest of Luis Rubiales marks yet another blow to the already tarnished reputation of Spanish football. Corruption scandals have plagued the sport in recent years, and this latest development only adds to the growing list of allegations against high-profile figures within the industry.
Conclusion
The arrest of Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish football federation, has sent shockwaves through the world of Spanish football. Rubiales is suspected of receiving illegal commissions during the negotiation of a deal to host the Spanish Super Cup competition in Saudi Arabia. He has been released after his arrest but may face court proceedings in the near future. This arrest comes at a time when Spanish football is already facing allegations of corruption, further damaging the sport’s reputation. Rubiales is also due to stand trial separately on sexual assault charges. Despite these legal troubles, Rubiales maintains his innocence and denies any wrongdoing.