The Spanish soccer association RFEF has drawn the first conclusions following the raid on the association’s headquarters and dismissed two directors
After Guardia Civil police officers searched the headquarters of the Spanish soccer association RFEF in the Madrid suburb of Las Rozas on Wednesday due to suspected irregularities in contracts and the associated criminal offenses, the association has now drawn the necessary conclusions.
As the RFEF announced on Thursday, legal director Pedro Gonzalez Segura and personnel director Jose Javier Jimenez have been dismissed with immediate effect. Disciplinary proceedings were also opened after the two directors were arrested outside the association’s premises on Wednesday.
The association also announced that the contract with Tomas Gonzalez Cueto’s law firm GC Legal had been terminated. Cueto had also been arrested as part of the police investigation into alleged corruption, fraudulent administration and money laundering.
Contract to host the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in focus
In addition to the association’s headquarters, the Granada home of former president Luis Rubiales – who was sacked following the “kissing scandal” at the Women’s World Cup award ceremony and has since been banned for three years by the Spanish Court of Arbitration for Sport – was also searched on Wednesday, as was the Olimpico de La Cartuja in Seville. The Copa del Rey final between Athletic Bilbao and RCD Mallorca is scheduled to take place there on April 6.
The investigation focuses on alleged irregularities in contracts over the last five years. In particular, it concerns a contract to host the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia worth €40 million per year, which Rubiales had concluded as a representative of the association. Former world champion Gerard Pique and his company Kosmos acted as intermediaries.
In an initial statement on Wednesday, the RFEF expressed its “deep concern” about the allegations and announced “full transparency”. The dismissal of the two directors was the first step in the association’s internal investigation.