Spanish prosecutors are expected to issue an arrest warrant for disgraced former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Jose Luis Rubiales in connection with the ongoing anti-corruption investigation into contracts signed during his term as the head of Spanish football.
Civil Guards and members of Europol on Wednesday raided the RFEF headquarters in the town of Las Rozas, on the outskirts of Madrid along with several other properties, including Rubiales’ office in Granada.
Several people involved with the RFEF’s legal and economic branches have been arrested as part of the operation, which is focused on the contracts that have seen the Spanish Supercup played in Saudi Arabia since 2020 and which are due to last until 2029.
Contracts which have led to the Copa del Rey final and Spanish national team playing in the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville in recent years, are also under investigation.
Rubiales was forced to step down as RFEF president last year following the scandal of his behavior at the Women’s World Cup final, in which he was filmed grabbing his crotch in celebrations and gave Spain player Jenni Hermoso an unsolicited kiss.
He has not yet been arrested as he is currently in the Dominican Republic, but sources close to the investigation indicate that if Rubiales had been in Spain he would also have been detained.
He is now expected to return to Spain to face possible charges of corruption, dishonest management and money laundering.
Spain and the Dominican Republic have an extradition agreement, but Spanish authorities would rather avoid a hearing as that would delay the case.
Meanwhile, the RFEF issued a communique offering full cooperation with the investigation.
“Today, the RFEF has offered full collaboration to the State Security Forces, as well as to the Justice Department, after the search of its headquarters; and has opted for absolute transparency in the institution that runs football in Spain. In this sense, we consider that the ultimate consequences must be reached in the ongoing investigation.”
The scandal has also raised fears than FIFA could take action against Spain, who jointly host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco. Although Spain is favorite to host the final, there are worries that the scandal could lead the governing body of world football to award the game to Morocco.
