Former Spain and Barcelona player Gerard Piqué is facing investigation over the Spanish football federation’s controversial deal to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. A Spanish judge has expanded the probe to include Piqué in a group of individuals under official investigation.
The investigation will focus on allegations of corruption and money laundering surrounding the decision to host the cup in Saudi Arabia, a move orchestrated by former federation president Luis Rubiales in 2019. Contracts signed between the federation and Saudi Arabia reportedly included a 10-year agreement to stage the tournament in the Middle Eastern nation for €40 million annually.
Documents seized during police raids revealed that Piqué’s sports entertainment company Kosmos was set to receive an additional €4 million per year as a commission while Piqué was still playing for Barcelona and participating in the Super Cup. Piqué has since retired from football, and Kosmos has been involved in various sports ventures, including revamping tennis’ Davis Cup and launching the King’s League football competition in Spain and Latin America.
The investigation is ongoing, and the judge may decide to either shelve the case or recommend it for trial. Earlier in April, police arrested Rubiales and other federation employees in connection with the case, which has now been expanded to include Rubiales’ successor, Pedro Rocha. Rocha took over as interim federation president after Rubiales resigned following a scandal where he kissed a player without her consent during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony. Kosmos has not yet commented on the investigation.