Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales faces arrest

LONDON – Luis Rubiales, the disgraced former president of Spain’s football federation who was forced out after kissing a female player against her will, faces new legal troubles after Spanish police were given permission to arrest him as part of a wide-ranging investigation into accusations of corruption and money laundering.

Investigators from the Spanish Civil Guard carried out a series of raids on March 20, including searches at the headquarters of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on the outskirts of Madrid and at a home owned by Rubiales in the southern city of Granada.

The public prosecutor’s office in Madrid said 11 homes and a number of other buildings were searched as part of an investigation into what it described as “alleged criminal acts associated with corruption in business, unfair administration and money laundering”.

Seven people were arrested on March 20, but Rubiales was not among them. He was in the Dominican Republic but is expected to return to Spain on April 6, according to a letter sent to the presiding judge by his lawyer. Spain’s Civil Guard has been authorised to arrest him upon arrival in Spain if necessary.

Rubiales’ lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On March 21, the RFEF fired various directors linked with the corruption probe. A statement said it had “opened disciplinary proceedings” against the sacked director of legal services, Pedro Gonzalez Segura and director of human resources, Jose Javier Jimenez, both of whom were arrested on March 20.

Investigators are looking into contracts related to the federation’s sale of the Spanish Super Cup’s lucrative rights to Saudi Arabia, in a deal brokered by one of Spain’s most celebrated players, Gerard Pique.

Rubiales is also under investigation on allegations of hiring detectives to spy on the head of the Spanish players’ union, misusing federation funds to pay for personal expenses and hosting a sex party paid for with federation funds in Granada in 2020 – all claims that emerged after official complaints were made to prosecutors.

The 46-year-old saw his career collapse in the wake of his actions after Spain’s triumph at the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Australia. In front of tens of thousands of fans at Sydney’s Stadium Australia and millions more watching on television, he planted an unwanted kiss on the mouth of Jennifer Hermoso during the medal ceremony. The episode resulted in an outcry in Spain and beyond, and a criminal complaint filed by Hermoso.

In January, a judge found enough evidence of wrongdoing to recommend that Rubiales face trial over the kiss and the subsequent coercion of Hermoso. NYTIMES, AFP