Luis Rubiales will reportedly return to Spain on Wednesday despite the risk of being arrested as part of a police investigation into corruption at the Spanish Football Federation.
The authorities are looking into a multimillion-euro deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup tournament to Saudi Arabia and raided the Spanish FA headquarters and an apartment belonging to ex-president Rubiales last month.
An investigation into whether Rubiales committed a crime of improper management when the Spanish FA agreed with ex-Barcelona player Gerard Pique’s Kosmos firm to move the tournament has been underway since June 2022.
Marca reported that Rubiales was seen at the airport in the Dominican Republic, where he has lived for two months, waiting for a flight to Spain. Rubiales could be arrested when he lands, they said.
It comes as prosecutors push for Rubiales to be jailed for two-and-a-half years after he kissed Spain footballer Jenni Hermoso against her will after their Women’s World Cup triumph last August.
Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales is reportedly flying back to Spain on Wednesday, where he could be arrested as part of a corruption investigation
A Spanish court has been investigating Rubiales (L) over decision in 2019 to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia
Police searched the apartment belonging to former FA president Rubiales last month
Rubiales, 46, is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion after he grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the mouth during the trophy presentation after Spain’s win over England.
Rubiales resigned from his position as Spanish FA president but has denied any wrongdoing.
He broke his silence on that matter in an interview in the Dominican Republic with the Spanish channel La Sexta, in which he said: ‘I think Jenni’s way of qualifying my words was manipulative.’
He has also denied any wrongdoing in the corruption case.
Rubiales angers Spanish football traditionalists by expanding the annual Super Cup match between the champions of LaLiga and the winners of the Copa del Rey to a four-team format, shifting it from August to January, and moving it outside Spain.
The Spanish FA [RFEF] in 2019 agreed a three-year deal worth a reported €120million [$131m] with the Saudi sports authority to stage the tournament there.
The RFEF’s Madrid base and Rubiales’ Granada apartment were searched in late March as part of the investigation led by Judge Delia Rodrigo Diaz.
Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent following Spain’s World Cup success
Prosecutors in Spain are pushing for Rubiales to receive a 2.5-year prison term over ‘Kissgate’
The national prosecutor’s office said the probe was looking for corruption in business, improper management of assets and money laundering.
Police carried out a total of 11 searches at unspecified locations across Spain related to the case, and the prosecutor’s office said at the time it expected seven people to be arrested.
As the Civil Guard and undercover agents searched the offices of the soccer federation, the Spanish national team was training on the adjoining pitch.
Rubiales was not at home when agents searched his apartment, with Marca saying he has been in the Caribbean for two months.
Spain international footballer Hermoso pictured arriving at court in Madrid back in January
Last week, prosecutors in the ‘Kissgate’ case said they were seeking a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault and a separate one-year six-month prison sentence for coercion linked to his alleged attempts to get Hermoso to speak out in his defence.
They also want him to pay Hermoso €100,000 (£85,000) in compensation if he is convicted at trial.
Madrid-based judge Francisco de Jorge paved the way for Rubiales to be tried earlier this year after recommending he be put in the dock.
He said his long-running probe had uncovered ‘solid evidence’ pointing to the potential illegality of the kiss.
