The Spanish government this Wednesday ruled out that a trial related to suspected corruption in the football federation jeopardizes the organization of the 2030 World Cup by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
“The very existence of this operation demonstrates that democratic institutions and the judiciary work in Spain, and this is a guarantee for the organization and celebration of any international event such as the World Cup,” said President and Justice Minister Felix. Bolaños.
The minister stressed that “state security forces and judges are doing their job, which is to prosecute crimes and prosecute criminals.”
Thus, Felix Bolaños answered questions from journalists in Madrid about the judicial investigation into alleged corruption in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) between 2018 and 2023, when Luis Rubiales headed this organization.
Rubiales was detained by police at Madrid airport this Wednesday in connection with the case after landing in Spain from abroad.
After being identified and notified of the trial, Rubiales was released and is now awaiting a summons to appear in court, according to several sources cited by Spanish media.
Cell phones and other mobile devices were also seized at the request of the judge overseeing the investigation, the same sources said.
The former president of the RFEF arrived in Madrid this Wednesday on a commercial flight from the Dominican Republic and, while he was still on the plane, he was approached by members of the Guardia Civil, reports La Sexta television, which had a team of journalists on board. same flight. .
Rubiales was then taken away in a Civil Guard car, the second moment broadcast on the same television.
Possible irregularities in RFEF contracts are being investigated when Rubiales was federation president, a position he gave up after a controversy over a kiss with player Jenny Hermoso.
Rubiales denied allegations of corruption in an interview with La Sexta television, which will be broadcast in full this Wednesday.
The former RFEF president was in the Dominican Republic when the court notified him two weeks ago, and his defense told the judge in the case that he was outside Spain for work, that he would return to the country in April. 6 and that he will stay at home. “Total disposition” of the authorities.
Rubiales was ultimately awaiting his return to Spain and landed in Madrid this morning after the accommodation he was staying at in the Dominican Republic was the subject of searches on Monday by Civil Guard units in collaboration with the US authorities, according to a report by Spanish News MASS MEDIA.
As part of this investigation, several people had already been arrested on March 22, when searches were carried out at the RFEF headquarters in Madrid, at the home of Luis Rubiales in Granada and other places.
According to documents cited this Wednesday by the EFE news agency, Spanish justice has already blocked more than 50 bank accounts belonging to several people, including some of Rubiales, and has also confiscated a car belonging to the former president of the federation.
The trial concerns alleged irregularities in contracts signed by the RFEF since 2018, a period during which the organization was chaired by Luis Rubiales and which included the hosting of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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