Footballer Gerard Piqué under investigation for alleged commissions charging in Spain’s Super Cup in Saudi Arabia
Former FC Barcelona player faces charges in case also involving former RFEF president Luis Rubiales
Former FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué is under investigation for alleged commission charges in the planning to organize Spain’s Super Cup championship in Saudi Arabia, among the new people facing charges there is also the current Spanish Football Federation president, Pedro Rocha, and former president Luis Rubiales.
The judge considers Piqué would have earned €4 million annually, and the Spanish football federation €40,000.
At the time of the contract signed between RFEF and the Saudi Arabian company, Piqué was still a player at FC Barcelona, one of the clubs taking part in the competition, as the judge, Delia Rodrigo, points out in a judicial statement.
Bank accounts in Andorra
This extension of the investigation responds to the result of the judge's investigation of almost a hundred bank accounts in Andorra belonging to former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué.
The judge wanted to know the Rubiales and Piqué financial links and, in particular, if Piqué paid Rubiales kickbacks in exchange for bringing the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
As a result of investigations by Spanish police (Guardia Civil), the judge sent a formal request to Andorra asking for information on transactions relating to 89 accounts and 27 companies belonging to Piqué, according to court documents seen by the Catalan News Agency (ACN).
The judge also requested information on Rubiales and others linked to him through the football federation or private businesses.
Rubiales interrogated
The judge has already questioned Rubiales, the main charged in this investigation.
On April Luis Rubiales, was released after being detained and giving testimony in Madrid on corruption charges.
Rubiales was traveling from the Dominican Republic to Madrid's airport, where he was arrested on charges of receiving illegal commissions when negotiating the contract to bring Spain's Super Cup competition to Saudi Arabia.
He is under investigation for several crimes, including being part of a criminal organization, business corruption, and money laundering.