Rubiales is detained on suspicion of corruption and money laundering

The former president of Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubialeswas arrested on charges of corruption and money laundering, and later released after being interrogated upon arriving in Madrid on an international flight.

According to a spokesperson for the Civil Guard, who spoke to the CNNRubiales was detained this morning shortly after landing at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, coming from a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic.

After giving a statement at the Civil Guard unit located in Terminal 4 of the airport, Rubiales was released. However, he must wait for a court summons to appear before the Court.

Corruption and money laundering

The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a commercial deal made during Rubiales’ tenure, which allowed the Spanish Super Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia.

The authorities issued search and seizure warrants at the former president’s residences and at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation.

Sexual assault

Rubiales also faces another legal case related to an incident that occurred during the women’s World Cup final in 2023. At the time, the former president kissed forcibly the player Jenni Hermoso during the awards ceremony. He will be tried for sexual assault, a crime for which former player Daniel Alves was already convicted this year.

The forced kiss generated a huge wave of criticism and pressure on Rubiales, leading him to resign as president of the federation after weeks of intense pressure, including from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Furthermore, he was also banned from the sport by FIFA.

Jenni Hermoso, the player who was the target of the forced kiss, stated that she did not feel comfortable with the situation. The former president will now face questioning in a Madrid court later today.

A promoter of Supreme Court of Spain seeks a 2 1/2 year prison sentence for Luis Rubiales for the sexual assault against player Jenni Hermoso.

According to the court document to which the Reuters had access, this Wednesday, 27th, prosecutor Marta Durantez accuses Rubiales of crimes that would carry prison sentences of one year and one and a half years, respectively.

Other accused

In addition, Durantez also accuses former Spain Women’s National Team coach Jorge Vilda, the team’s current sporting director, Albert Luque, and the federation’s head of marketing, Ruben Rivera, of coercing Hermoso into saying that the kiss was consensual. The three defendants denied any wrongdoing before the court.