Luis Rubiales arrested on return to Spain
The Guardia Civil detained the disgraced former president of the Spanish Football Federation when he landed at Madrid airport
The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, was arrested by Guardia Civil police in Spain today, Wednesday April 3, when he landed at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport from the Dominican Republic.
Agents from the Central Operative Unit (UCO) made the arrest as soon as he landed at Terminal 1 of the Madrid airport, where a van was waiting for him and in which he was taken to the Guardia Civil’s offices in the nearby neighbourhood of Barajas.
He was arrested on charges of alleged corruption pertaining to possible irregularities in contracts signed during the last five years while he was head of the RFEF that may stipulated the illegal payment of vast sums of money to his pals.
Rubiales had planned to return to Spain from the Dominican Republic this Saturday, although he brought his return to Spain forward to this Wednesday, one day after UCO agents searched his home in the Caribbean country where he had been living for a few months.
Sources from his defence team told media that he returned early not because of a court summons but because of his desire to return as soon as possible.
He was questioned by police, who also planned to search his mobile devices, and will later be summoned to testify in court in Majadahonda (Madrid). After his police interview, he has now been released.
The world’s media spotlight fell heavily on Rubiales after his allegedly non-consensual kiss on the lips of Spanish football player Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the Women's World Cup in August 2023.
Image: RFEF
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