Former FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué appeared before a judge in Madrid on Friday as part of an on-going judicial investigation into the business arrangement that resulted in the Spanish Super Cup being held in Saudi Arabia.
The investigation is focused on allegations of corruption and money laundering linked to a lucrative agreement made in 2019 by Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Neither Piqué nor his lawyer addressed the media gathered outside the courthouse.
According to the court, contracts between the RFEF and Saudi Arabia were signed in 2019 and 2020, establishing a 10-year deal to host the tournament in the Middle Eastern country for 40 million euros annually.
Additionally, Piqué’s sports entertainment company, Kosmos, was set to receive 4 million euros a year as a commission while he was still an active player for Barça and competing in the Super Cup. He has denied any wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Gerard Piqué in spotlight over €24m Spanish Super Cup deal in Saudi Arabia.
Piqué, who has since retired from football, was previously married to the Colombian pop singer Shakira.
The investigation began in 2022 after leaked audio recordings surfaced between Rubiales and Piqué discussing multi-million-euro commissions related to the deal.
When questioned by the judge in April 2024, Rubiales also denied any wrongdoing. Piqué was placed under investigation the following month. ALSO READ: Rubiales denies wrongdoing in probe into Saudi Arabia deal for Spanish Super Cup.
The case remains in the investigative stage, leaving the judge with the option to either dismiss it or move it forward to trial.
In a separate legal matter, Rubiales was convicted last month of sexual assault for kissing Spain player Jennifer Hermoso without her consent after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. ALSO READ: Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault and fined over €10k for World Cup kiss.
ALSO READ: Rubiales briefly detained at airport on return to Spain in corruption probe.
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