Several days ago, Luis Rubiales was seen entering the garage of his Madrid home without drawing much attention. He lives in a luxury penthouse on Ferraz Street and has kept a partially paid-off mortgage for years with contributions that are legally permissible, totaling around 3,000 euros per month. After losing his former salaries as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and as vice-president of UEFA, he has placed the property for sale on multiple portals at a price of 2.5 million euros.
This occurred just before he was required to provide testimony in the National Court, where he faces dual charges related to sexual assault and coercion for kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent and allegedly pressing his inner circle to publicly exonerate him.
Rubiales was accompanied in court by the distinguished criminal attorney Olga Tubau. The presiding judge, Francisco de Jorge, head of National Court No. 1’s Investigation Court, signaled the start of proceedings ten days prior and is preparing for decisive days as witnesses give statements this week.
Rubiales shifts focus away from the capital
Amid the unfolding legal scenario, Rubiales left Madrid for a period, mindful of the intense media scrutiny. He was recently seen in Granada, strolling along Paseo de los Tristes with his partner, appearing relaxed as he moved through the Albaicín streets toward Sacromonte.
He has ties to Granada and carried on without drawing additional attention, even in Motril. His hometown became a magnet for journalists who waited days for him to arrive or to offer a comment, a scene repeated in Motril as reporters hunted for statements from the resigned RFEF president.
Granada thus appears as a quieter refuge, even as the National Court case advances. Judge De Jorge is set to listen to Jenni Hermoso’s relatives today, though it remains unclear whether any are close family members or teammates. The experts who prepared Rubiales’ defense report are also expected to testify, with some witnesses reportedly appearing via video conference, according to Europa Press sources.
Four former RFEF employees called as witnesses
On Thursday, four individuals who were on the RFEF payroll at the time will testify. The lineup includes Albert Luque, the men’s national team director; Reuben Rivera, the marketing director; Patricia Perez, the women’s team press officer; and Miguel Garcia Caba, the integrity manager who was dismissed by the federation’s management group led by Pedro Rocha.
Sources cited by Europa Press indicate that Luque and Rivera were central to the prosecutors’ inquiry; Marta Durántez pressed Rubiales to verify whether Hermoso had been pressured, a claim Rubiales denied. Former coach Jorge Vilda, who was not summoned to testify, is anticipated to be among the five individuals noted in the prosecutor’s questioning.
Three national team players slated to testify
Next Monday, statements from three teammates of Jenni Hermoso on the senior squad will be presented. Reports from several media outlets identify Irene Paredes, Alexia Putellas, and goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez as the players the prosecutor wants to hear from. The first two players compete for FC Barcelona, while Misa Rodríguez plays for Real Madrid, which may influence whether some testimonies are conducted via video link.
The timeline for Hermoso’s own testimony remains pending. The judge has not yet summoned the player, but it is anticipated that she will be called after witness statements are heard from those involved in the incident.