Rubiales Family Dispute and Alleged Misuse of RFEF Funds Under Scrutiny

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Juan Rubiales, the former chief of staff, is linked to an ongoing case opened on May 30 in Majadahonda, Madrid, at the Court of First Instance and a related order. This matter forms part of an investigation into Luis Rubiales and Gerard Piqué, the football executive associated with Kosmos, on charges of improper management and business dealings using company funds for suspected irregular commissions.

Rubiales’ former chief of staff accuses him of paying for private events with RFEF funds

Public Ministry sources told El Periódico de España that the statement was submitted to the court and will be assessed by the presiding judge, Delia Rodrigo, to determine its criminal relevance. The case develops under the attention of Anti-Corruption Prosecutor José Miguel Alonso Carbajo, with the content reported by World newspaper that highlights the use of corporate money for personal gatherings. The statement notes a 2020 event at a private residence in Salobreña as an example of such activities.

The same sources indicate that the meeting was recorded as a working session, though it did not operate as such in practice. A group of young women attended, accompanied by the president and his closest staff, with costs charged to RFEF corporate cards.

This is not the first time Juan Rubiales has acted against his nephew. In recent months, both parties filed complaints regarding what they described as an espionage scheme. In these court actions, the nephew alleges that illegal information was obtained, while the uncle accuses the nephew of harassment and coercion.

RFEF statement

Following the public disclosure of Juan Rubiales’ statement to Anti-Corruption, the federation released a statement defending the president and criticizing the former chief of staff. The federation urged observers to consider the impact on the president’s image and signaled its strong disapproval of the statements made during the prosecutor’s interview last April. The federation said the publication in El Mundo constitutes a dishonest and manipulative effort aimed at tarnishing the president’s reputation, driven by alliances and a desire for vengeance from a former federation employee.

According to the federation, the expenses for the Salobreña meeting were borne entirely by participants, including Juan Rubiales. The federation asserted that neither staff members nor the RFEF were exposed to irregularities, and that Rubiales failed to present any evidence to support the accusations, neither to the prosecutor nor in court.

The Majadahonda case arose after a complaint from the Association for Transparency and Democracy in Sport, led by CENAFE president Miguel Ángel Galán. He alleged the existence of private audio recordings and documents that Rubiales published, which were claimed to be illegally accessed from the RFEF chief’s mobile device.

Alleged crimes

The CENAFE president cited several issues including a separate agreement with Saudi Arabia and Kosmos that allegedly resulted in a 24 million euro commission for arranging the Spanish Super Cup in the Saudi kingdom, as well as allegations of spying on the AFE chief David Aganzo. Other claims involve housing assistance provided by the RFEF to Rubiales and a trip to the United States with two other federation employees.

The case prompted the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office to pause its own proceedings and transfer the investigation to Judge Rodrigo, who will oversee the filing and potential trial. A second complaint from Manos Limpias was also directed to the same judge.

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