Rubialis’ kiss became a curse: Spanish police persecute football

The President of the Spanish Football Federation pays for his careless act

The Spanish Football Federation is being searched for corruption. The prosecutor’s office intends to arrest seven people. Federation President Luis Rubales, who kissed Jenny Hermoso after winning the Women’s World Cup, is already under investigation.

Spanish police on Wednesday, March 20, raided the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid as part of an investigation into a large-scale corruption case, the country’s prosecutor’s office said.

The operation is part of a broader investigation into unidentified individuals linked to alleged business corruption, asset mismanagement and money laundering, prosecutors said.

Police carried out a total of 11 searches at unspecified locations across Spain and the prosecutor expected seven people to be arrested.

While the Civil Guard and undercover agents searched the offices of the football federation, the Spanish national team trained on a nearby field. She plays Colombia on Friday 22 March in London and Brazil in two friendlies on Tuesday.

During the search, RFEF employees were prohibited from entering the building. The media present to cover training sessions and interviews with players were under close surveillance as police carried out searches that began at 9:30 a.m. and continued for several hours. After their completion, several Civil Guard officers emerged from a building in the center of Granada with a cardboard box marked “Luis Rubiales” and several other bags.

An RFEF source told Reuters that the home of former national football federation president Luis Rubiales in Andalusia was also being searched.

Rubiales resigned last year following a scandal involving kissing national team player Jenny Hermoso during celebrations for Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup.

Rubiales has faced many claims, including the shock decision to sack Spain coach Julen Lopetegui two days before the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and allegations of wrongdoing over a multimillion-dollar deal to move the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. He is still under investigation.

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In early December 2023, it was reported that Rubiales offered a job in Saudi Arabia. They wanted to include him in the team promoting the country’s bid to host the World Cup in 2034. Before this, on October 30, 2023, FIFA suspended Rubiales from work for three years after kissing a football player of the national team during the awards ceremony at the World Cup.