Former Spanish football federation (RFEF) president, Luis Rubiales arrived at a court in Madrid yesterday to testify as a witness in a corruption probe.
The disgraced former president resigned from his post in September 2023 amid the kiss-gate scandal, in which he allegedly kissed World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso without consent.
The resulting scandal became one of the biggest stories in football, and after Rubiales eventually stood down before receiving a three-year ban from football from FIFA, and he is now set to face trial, with prosecutors pushing for a two-and-a-half-year sentence.
However, the 46-year-old has been under investigation since June 2022 over improper management when the Spanish Super Cup was relocated to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth a reported €120million (around £107m).
A Spanish court had ordered the RFEF headquarters and other properties linked to a probe into alleged corruption, improper management and money laundering during his tenure as president of the RFEF. He denies any wrongdoing.
A source at the RFEF told Reuters that Rubiales’ home had also been searched. Images showed Civil Guard officers emerging from the Granada city centre apartment with a cardboard box labelled ‘Luis Rubiales’ along with several other bags.
Police had also searched a football stadium in Seville. Seven people have been arrested so far.
Rubiales was arrested on his return to Spain from the Dominican Republic, earlier this month, but was released after being detained, however he still faces a potential penalty for his actions last August.
Rubiales will face trial for allegedly kissing Hermoso last summer, as well as for subsequent coercion alongside former Spain women’s team manager Jorge Vilda.
