RFEF clash: Rubiales family feud goes to court

family disputes spill into courtrooms

The conflict within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) involving president Luis Rubiales and his uncle, former chief of staff Juan Rubiales, has moved into the courts. Cross complaints allege illegal information gathering and secret disclosures from one side, while the other accuses harassment and coercion. A bitter familial feud appears to be shaping the recent tensions around Spanish football, with rumors of espionage schemes fueling public doubt.

During the first two years of his tenure (2018-2020), Juan Rubiales served as a close aide to Luis. He was dismissed in August 2020 and, two years later, reassigned to a lower rank within the RFEF where he remains employed. The rift between the two has deepened to the point where Luis suspects his uncle is aligned with LaLiga president Javier Tebas and supplied some private information to El Confidencial published in the past weeks. Critics describe the situation as a stark breach of trust.

The RFEF has accused Juan Rubiales of obtaining illegal information and revealing secrets. This claim has been corroborated by federal sources to El Periódico de España. A spokesperson for the federation, Javier Gómez Matallanas, told Efe that Juan Rubiales and another RFEF employee, whose identity was not specified, will testify on June 20. While legal sources do not confirm the accusation outright, they acknowledge the existence of the complaint, spurred by recent disclosures from Ok Diario. Juan Rubiales’ attorney disputed the interview given to this newspaper, saying his client was unaware of the accusation.

more facades

On the opposite side, Juan Rubiales faces a complaint of harassment and coercion by his niece, which has broadened Luis Rubiales’ legal exposure. The uncle is also involved in actions brought by Miguel Ángel Galán, head of the National Football Coaches Training Center (CENAFE), who is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. Other proceedings involve the Clean Hands League and the head of the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), David Aganzo, which are being pursued by Civil Guard authorities.

RFEF considers action against Tebas for alleged conspiracy against Rubiales and Blanco

At the same time, labor disputes arise from the dismissal of Juan Rubiales as cabinet chief on June 28. A settlement attempt before Madrid’s Mediation, Arbitration and Conciliation Service (SMAC) will address workplace harassment and alleged violations of fundamental rights. A separate harassment and coercion complaint has been filed in Madrid’s ordinary courts and remains under review by legal authorities.

homefront developments

The harassment case relates to Juan Rubiales taking sick leave on May 3, with reports of psychological and pharmacological treatment. In early May, human resources officials requested a home visit to sign documents, amid concerns about a leak of the president’s private information. A shadow persists over the federation as investigators probe leaks and internal security questions.

Rubiales rejects nearly everything and speaks openly during the RFEF assembly

The complaint targets Alfredo Olivares, Director of Organization and People, and Pedro González Segura, director of the legal department, with secondary targets including Andreu Camps, secretary general, and Rubiales’ nephew according to Relevo and corroborated by El Periódico de España. Anti-Corruption authorities continue to evaluate documents related to Rubiales’ contract for the Saudi Arabia Super Cup and other contentious management decisions. The probe also questions a large contract with Gerard Piqué’s Kosmos Global Holding SL and potential related crimes. Prosecutors have noted the need to scrutinize the details, including a commission thought to reach around 24 million euros. The next steps will determine whether these questions are handled within Anti-Corruption offices or move to a Madrid-based judge’s chamber.

Regardless of venue, the probe centers on Rubiales’ conduct and whether decisions were made behind the federation’s back. The federation has supplied documents to aid the investigation, including material about the Saudi contract and other related issues, and there is mention of a house rental payment in central Madrid connected to Rubiales.

no rogatory commission

Prosecutor Alonso did not request international procedural assistance, such as a rogatory commission to Saudi authorities, a fact consistent with the usual limits of such investigations. The Spanish justice system has shown a pattern of delayed cross-border cooperation in similar cases. The Anti-Corruption Office continues a detailed review of Rubiales’ conduct with regard to specific decisions rather than presenting a sweeping judgment on his administration.

The federation stated on May 25 that cooperation with justice remains ongoing and investigations aim to clarify whether the million-euro commissions tied to Piqué’s company Kosmos Global Holding SL were arranged internally or without proper authorization. Documentation also circulated to explain recent media disclosures about the Saudi Super Cup contract and other related matters, including a rent payment in central Madrid connected to Rubiales.

Clean Hands complaint

A second criminal case awaits admissibility in Madrid’s ordinary courts, brought by the Clean Hands group. The case outlines a broad set of issues under Anti-Corruption scrutiny, including a controversial trip to New York with a Mexican painter friend and alleged espionage involving David Aganzo, president of the AFE, who has reported the events to the Civil Guard. The complaint also alleges forgery of an official document via a false invoice of 11,764 euros meant to fund surveillance of the AFE head in August 2019, a move aimed at undermining Aganzo through a no-confidence motion backed by Rubiales associates. The evolving legal process continues to unfold in Madrid’s jurisdiction, with potential implications for federation governance.