Spanish police arrest ex-soccer federation head Rubiales on return to country amid corruption probe
Luis Rubiales, the disgraced former president of Spain’s soccer federation who kissed a player on the lips without her consent at the Women’s World Cup final, was arrested Wednesday as part of a separate corruption probe by Spanish police before being released.
Luis Rubiales, the disgraced former president of Spain’s soccer federation who kissed a player on the lips without her consent at the Women’s World Cup final, was arrested Wednesday as part of a separate corruption probe by Spanish police before being released.
The Civil Guard said that Rubiales was questioned by police at Madrid’s airport after he was detained on exiting the plane that brought him back home from the Dominican Republic. He was released a few hours later. An investigative judge is expected to summon him for more questioning in the coming days.
Rubiales was returning to Spain amid a judicial probe into business deals while he ran the federation, including his biggest decision to move the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
Rubiales was in the Dominican Republic two weeks ago when police raided a property belonging to him in the southern Spanish city of Granada and the offices of the Spanish Football Federation in Madrid. Seven people were arrested by police before being released and Rubiales was identified as one of five additional individuals under investigation.
A Spanish national police officer at the arrivals hall of the Madrid Barajas airport, on Wednesday.Javier Soriano / AFP - Getty ImagesThe corruption and money laundering investigation is looking into contracts for the Spanish Super Cup and the federation’s links with Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium, which hosts the Copa del Rey final and some international games, among other deals.
Rating: 5