In response to Spanish media the operation is a part of a court docket investigation into contracts signed by former federation chief Rubiales to take the Spanish Tremendous Cup to Saudi Arabia.
The contracts signed are price €40 million a yr ($43.3 million) and had been organized with former footballer Gerard Piqué’s firm Kosmos performing as an middleman.
Commercial
The operation concerned searches of varied places throughout Spain in addition to the RFEF’s base in Las Rozas, on the sting of Madrid, and Rubiales’ property in Granada, though the 46-year-old is presently outdoors of Spain.
Rubiales stepped down in shame in September after forcibly kissing Girls’s World Cup star Jenni Hermoso to impress worldwide outrage, following Spain’s triumph within the Sydney remaining in August.
Police acted in “an investigation linked to presumed crimes linked with corruption in enterprise, fraudulent administration and cash laundering”, stated judicial sources.
The sources stated that seven arrests had been anticipated within the operation in addition to 5 additional folks investigated, whereas 11 properties can be searched.
Spanish media stated no arrests had been made on the federation’s headquarters, the place the Spanish nationwide staff is presently based mostly forward of upcoming friendlies towards Colombia on Friday in England and Brazil on subsequent Tuesday in Madrid.
“I had no thought about (the police operation), we educated as regular,” stated Spain and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
The Spanish Tremendous Cup occurred for the primary time in Saudi Arabia in 2020.
After the next version returned to Spain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following three competitions had been again in Saudi Arabia.
Spanish prosecutors opened a probe in 2022 into the Tremendous Cup deal after audio recordings between Rubiales and Piqué had been leaked wherein they spoke of multi-millions worth commissions.
Rubiales has at all times defended the legality of the deal to take the Tremendous Cup to the oil-rich Gulf state.
“If there may be any kind of fee, Kosmos will get it from Saudi Arabia — the federation has not paid, will not be paying and won’t pay a single euro in fee to anybody for this deal,” Rubiales stated in 2022.
Former Barcelona and Spain defender Piqué stated in April 2022 “the whole lot is authorized” and that he was “proud” of the deal.