Rubiales denies “irregularities” in corruption investigations in Spanish football

Disgraced former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales denied any financial “irregularities” on Monday after testifying in court as part of a corruption probe into his tenure.

“What I maintain and will always maintain, and I am convinced that justice will (prove), is that no money was ever received in an irregular manner,” Rubiales told reporters after leaving court in Madrid.

Rubiales, 46, who resigned after global outrage after he forcibly kissed women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso after the final last summer, testified at length.

“I answered all the questions that were asked to me. If I have to come here again, I will be here and collaborate – I am the one who is most interested in clearing everything up,” Rubiales said.

Rubiales must appear in court every month and ask the judge for permission before traveling outside Spain, a court source told AFP.

Rubiales was briefly detained upon his return to Spain from the Dominican Republic in early April as part of an investigation into contracts signed by the federation (RFEF) since 2018, including one signed by Rubiales to bring the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

“There was never any irregular tendering, we were paid with the utmost excellence and in pursuit of legality,” Rubiales added.

On March 20, investigators searched Rubiales' home in the southern city of Granada, among 11 locations in the alleged transplant scandal.

The raids were part of “an investigation into suspected offenses related to economic corruption, fraudulent administration and money laundering,” judicial sources said.

The Supercup contracts are worth 40 million euros per year (US$43.3 million). The deal was brokered by Kosmos, a company owned by former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique.

The Spanish Super Cup took place in Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2020.

It returned to Spain for a year during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the following three editions returned to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The new Spanish football president Pedro Rocha is also being investigated in a suspected bribery case.

Rocha served as vice president of the federation under Rubiales and then replaced him temporarily before being elected chief this week.

Rubiales is also due to stand trial for the non-consensual kiss on Hermoso's lips, which can be classified as sexual assault under Spanish law.

rbs/jc