A Spanish judge has taken a bold step in the investigation of corruption surrounding the hosting of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia by ordering the freezing of a bank account belonging to a company run by former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué.
The judge, Delia Rodrigo, acted on a request by state prosecutors to freeze the bank account of Kosmos sports entertainment company, which was founded and managed by Piqué. This move comes as part of a wider probe into corruption and money laundering within the Spanish football federation.
The investigation has already seen the arrest of former federation president Luis Rubiales earlier this month, along with seven others in March. Rubiales was instrumental in taking the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in 2020, a deal reportedly worth millions of euros per tournament. Piqué, who played for Barcelona at the time, played a key role in securing the deal through his company, Kosmos.
State prosecutors began looking into the deal in 2022 after leaked audio files revealed conversations between Rubiales and Piqué discussing substantial commissions. Piqué has since retired from football, while Kosmos has been involved in various sports ventures, including the Davis Cup and the King’s League football competition in Spain.
The scandal surrounding the Spanish Super Cup has rocked the football world, with Rubiales stepping down in September after a controversial incident involving player Jenni Hermoso during the Women’s World Cup final. As the investigation continues, the football community waits anxiously for further developments in this high-profile case.