A Spanish judge has expanded her investigation into the Spanish Super Cup to include former football star Gerard Piqué, who is now under official investigation along with several others.
Kabul 24: The probe focuses on allegations of corruption and money laundering related to the hosting of the cup in Saudi Arabia in a lucrative deal made by former federation president Luis Rubiales in 2019.
Details of the Deal and Piqué’s Involvement
The Madrid-based court revealed that contracts signed between the federation and Saudi Arabia in 2019 and 2020 concluded in a 10-year agreement to stage the mini-football tournament in the Middle Eastern nation for €40 million a year.
Additionally, documents confiscated by police raids in March showed that another €4 million a year was to be paid as a commission to Piqué’s sports entertainment company, Kosmos, while Piqué was still playing for Barcelona and participating in the Super Cup. Piqué has since retired from football.
Kosmos and the Investigation
Kosmos, which was involved in revamping the Davis Cup and starting the alternative King’s League football competition in Spain, has expanded to Latin America. In April, the judge requested that a bank account of Kosmos be frozen. Kosmos did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment.
Other Individuals Involved in the Probe
Police arrested Rubiales and other federation employees earlier in April, but Rubiales was promptly released. The probe was then expanded to include Rubiales’ successor, Pedro Rocha, who took over as interim federation president after Rubiales stepped down in September. Rocha became a national embarrassment for kissing a player without her consent during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony.
Case Status and Next Steps
The case is still in its investigative phase, and the judge can either shelve it or recommend it go to trial. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the probe continues
