Gerard Piqué, investigated in Super Cup case, denies wrongdoing in court testimony

Former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué broke down in an emotional testimony in court in Majadahonda, just outside Madrid, on Friday morning. 

Piqué denied all wrongdoing, and broke down emotionally after asking for an opportunity to speak to the court, according to media present in the courthouse.

He is under investigation for alleged illegal commissions in the deal to bring the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, brokered by his company Kosmos in 2019, with the first edition played there in January 2020.

At this phase of the investigation, Piqué is not accused of any crimes, and the legal bodies are studying whether alleged crimes of corruption, disloyal administration, and money laundering were committed in the operation to bring the Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

According to media present in the court, the footballer-turned-businessman only answered the questions of the judge Delia Rodrigo, the prosecutor, and the defense, refusing to answer the questions of the private prosecution.

At the end of his statement, he asked for the chance to speak, at which point he became emotional and said he did not understand his implication in any alleged wrongdoing, while lamenting the serious reputational damage it caused.

Piqué gave explanations of the case for around two hours, and said he felt his implication has no basis as said commissions were not collected from the Spanish Football Federation, nor were they paid to the federative body or to the then president, Luis Rubiales.

He argued that his company, Kosmos, achieved the best possible contract with the greatest economic benefit for Spanish football in the deal struck with Saudi company Sela.

Investigation

The judge considers Piqué would have earned €4 million annually from the deal, 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.

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 former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales and others linked to him through the football federation or private businesses.