The former Spanish football boss is being questioned as part of a corruption investigation during his time at the helm of the club.
Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has denied any financial “irregularity” after giving evidence in court as part of a corruption investigation into his tenure.
“What I maintain and will always maintain, and I am convinced that justice will demonstrate it, is that there has never been any money received irregularly,” Rubiales told reporters after leaving the Madrid court.
Rubiales, 46, who resigned following global outrage after kissed by force The star of the Women’s World Cup, Jenni Hermoso, last summer, after the final match, testified at length.
“I answered all the questions that were asked of me. If I have to come back here, I will be here to collaborate. I am most interested in clarifying everything,” Rubiales said.
Rubiales was briefly detained upon his return to Spain from the Dominican Republic in early April as part of an investigation into Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) contracts signed since 2018, including the one signed by Rubiales to bring the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
“There has never been an irregular call for tenders. We were paid with the utmost excellence and in pursuit of legality,” added Rubiales.
On March 20, investigators searched Rubiales’ home in the southern city of Granada, among 11 locations implicated in the alleged corruption scandal.
These searches were part of “an investigation linked to alleged crimes linked to business corruption, administrative fraud and money laundering”, according to judicial sources.
The Super Cup contracts are worth 40 million euros a year ($43.3 million) and the deal is being brokered by Kosmos, a company owned by former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique.
The Spanish Super Cup was held for the first time in Saudi Arabia in 2020.
It returned to Spain for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the next three editions returned to the oil-rich Gulf state.
Spain’s new football president, Pedro Rocha, is also under investigation in an alleged corruption case.
Rocha served as vice president of the federation under Rubiales, then replaced him on an interim basis before being elected leader this week.
Rubiales also faces trial for the nonconsensual kiss on Hermoso’s lips, which under Spanish law can be classified as sexual assault.
