Fallen Football Figure Faces Court Restrictions: Luis Rubiales Ordered to Appear Monthly, Travel Limited

Luis Rubiales (46), the former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) tarnished by corruption allegations, has been hit with court restrictions. A judge in Madrid has mandated Rubiales to appear before the court at least once a month and seek permission for any travel outside Spain.

This decision comes after Rubiales’ testimony on Monday, where he faced a corruption investigation. He is suspected of unfair administration and business corruption related to a deal with former Barcelona player Gerard Pique’s company, Kosmos. The deal involved relocating the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia for a reported €120 million ($128.45 million).

Rubiales maintains his innocence. “Justice will prevail,” he declared to reporters. “There has never been any financial irregularity under my watch, nor any improper bidding for the Super Cup. We’ve always acted with the utmost integrity and legality.” He expressed his willingness to cooperate with the court, stating, “I’ve answered all questions and will be here again if needed. I want to clear my name.”

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These restrictions come after a period where Rubiales’ whereabouts raised questions. He spent over two months in the Dominican Republic, citing a business trip, while Spanish authorities conducted searches related to the corruption probe. Upon returning to Spain in April, he was informed of his suspect status and court appearance requirement.

The investigation has seen searches of the RFEF headquarters, Rubiales’ residence, and a Seville stadium. Seven individuals have been arrested so far.

Adding to Rubiales’ woes are separate charges of sexual assault and coercion. These stem from an alleged incident where he kissed player Jenni Hermoso without consent after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory. Rubiales claims it was consensual, but prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

In September 2023, Rubiales resigned as RFEF president. He was further sanctioned by FIFA a month later with a three-year ban from all football activities for the alleged kissing incident.