Gerard Piqué's Andorran bank accounts investigated in Rubiales corruption case

The judge in Madrid who is investigating the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, for alleged corruption, is studying almost a hundred bank accounts belonging to former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué. 

She wants to know the two men's 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 has also requested information on Rubiales and others linked to him through the football federation or private businesses. 

Fate of funds 

According to the judge's letter, which the Andorran authorities have partially accepted, in order to bring the Super Cup to Arabia, several contracts were signed between the RFEF and companies in Saudi Arabia, with Piqué "appearing among the signatories and beneficiaries" representing Kosmos Holding SL, the parent company for several businesses, including Kosmos Football. 

Investigators want to find out the fate of the funds paid into Kosmos Football's account by Saudi company Sela, €4m per year, supposedly in return for help with the negotiations with the RFEF over bringing the Spanish football competition to Saudi Arabia. 

From the analysis carried out by Spanish police, the main source of income for Kosmos Football was international currency transfers from Sela. They also note that the "vast majority" of outgoing payments were sent to other companies in the Kosmos group. 

The Spanish tax agency has verified that the payments from Sela to Kosmos were declared, as was the delivery of part of these funds to Andorra between 2019 and 2021, but police have requested more information from the Andorran authorities. 

Investigators are also looking into why Kosmos transferred €5.3m to FC Andorra, owned by Piqué, after the Sela transfers. 

Police believe the money paid by Sela has largely gone to finance FC Andorra and to transfer money to other accounts of the holding company. However, so far, they have not found any evidence that the money was used for payments to top officials at the RFEF. 

Rubiales arrest 

Rubiales was released after being detained and giving testimony in Madrid on corruption charges on Wednesday. 

The former head of the RFEF is expected to testify in court on Saturday, after police read his rights and accessed his mobile devices. 

He is under investigation for several crimes, including being part of a criminal organization, business corruption, and money laundering. 

Jenni Hermoso kiss 

Luis Rubiales is also pending trial for sexual assault and coercion after he kissed football player Jenni Hermoso during the women's World Cup final celebrations without her consent. 

The public prosecutor is seeking two-and-a-half years in prison, but Rubiales has denied any wrongdoing.