There has never been a secret president. After the indiscreet kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, common sense seemed far from the picture. Five years ago, Luis Rubiales rose to the pinnacle of Spanish football by defeating Juan Luis Larrea, who gathered 56 votes after receiving 80, and by ending the long tenure that had propelled Ángel Villar into absolute power for nearly three decades (1988-2017). The path led to a judicial process and a corruption trial under the banner of Operation Soulé, opening a door for Rubiales to take control as the former leader of both the Spanish Footballers Association and the Spanish Football Federation.
From there Rubiales has continued to shape a public profile that stretches from Guadix to Alicante, across Mallorca, Lleida, Xerez, and Levante, with a noticeable presence in the Second Division. His arrival and the timing—just 48 hours before the 2018 World Cup in Russia—saw the national team’s selector step away while it was announced that Madrid would supply a new coach. Rubiales’ decision to dismiss the coach was controversial, and Spain entered the World Cup with Fernando Hierro, who had served as the federation’s sporting director, stepping into the role of head coach on short notice.
In the following period, the federation faced a cascade of tensions. The Super Cup tie, the management style, and ongoing conflicts in the sport featured prominently, including disputes with La Liga’s leadership and diverging visions for how the game should be run. The awarding of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, through the Kosmos organization led by Gerard Piqué, underscored the broader clashes between different models of sports management and diplomacy. Leaked messages hinted at a close working relationship between a Canary Islands-born leader who grew up in Motril and a Barcelona player of the era, with one message implying the deal for a Saudi-based event had already been sealed before a late-night exchange of congratulations. A one-million-dollar commission is cited in connection with the arrangement to establish a new Arab base for the competition. This episode added to the perception of entrenched interests and the intertwining of football with business deals.
Victim of a “stage hunt”
Rubiales has remained at the center of institutional strife, though he is not believed to have had direct contact with certain key figures in the federation’s leadership. He has faced a relentless effort to tie his salary to personal interests linked to Madrid and Barcelona’s pursuit of the Super Cup, and he has lived amid ongoing noise and scrutiny. In a notable confession, Rubiales described facing a campaign he called a crafted hunt, alleging that truth was being manipulated and information was being stolen from private devices as the charges against him were debated. Critics pointed to a pattern of attacks and a broader mafia-like atmosphere that supposedly targeted him while defending the cases against him.
Re-elected until 2024
Rubiales once told the press that courage is a necessary trait for anyone holding his position within the federation. He expected powerful figures to challenge him, but he did not anticipate the extent to which personal data might be exposed. The backdrop included a leadership transition prompted by the resignation of notable figures and a contest for the presidency that extended beyond a typical term in office. The day-to-day experience behind the scenes featured a constant stream of complaints, public spats, and fraying reputations. Family disagreements reached into the public arena when relatives accused him of misdeeds, while the federation promptly rejected such claims as unfounded.
Rubiales has endured a long run at the helm. The controversial kiss involving Jenni Hermoso places him in a particularly sensitive situation amid ongoing debates about leadership, accountability, and the integrity of leadership within Spanish football.
[Attribution note: events summarized from ongoing coverage and public records, with emphasis on the broader context of leadership, governance, and controversies within Spanish football, as reported by multiple outlets.]