Judge includes ex-player Gerard Piqué in probe into Saudi Arabia deal for Spanish Super Cup

JOSEPH WILSON
·2-min read

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — A Spanish judge expanded her investigation into the Spanish soccer federation's deal to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia to include former player Gerard Piqué on Thursday.

In court documents made available to the press, judge Delia Rodrigo formally included the former Spain and Barcelona defender in a group of people now under official investigation.

The probe is examining suspicions of corruption and money laundering in the hosting of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in a lucrative move made by former federation president Luis Rubiales in 2019.

The Madrid-based court said Thursday that contracts signed between the federation and Saudi Arabia in 2019 and 2020 concluded in a 10-year agreement to stage the mini soccer tournament in the Middle Eastern nation for 40 million euros ($43 million) a year.

But documents confiscated by police raids in March showed that another 4 million euros a year was to be paid as a commission to Piqué's sports entertainment company Kosmos while Piqué was still playing for Barcelona and participating in the Super Cup.

Piqué has since retired from soccer. Kosmos was involved in revamping tennis’ Davis Cup and also starting the alternative King’s League soccer competition in Spain that has expanded to Latin America.

In April, the same judge requested or a bank account of Kosmos to be frozen.

Kosmos did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment.

The case is still at its investigative phase. The judge can either conclude to shelve it or recommend it go to trial.

Police arrested Rubiales and other federation employees earlier in April. He was released quickly released. The probe was then expanded to include Rubiales’ successor, Pedro Rocha.

Rocha took over as interim federation president after Rubiales stepped down in September, weeks after he became a national embarrassment for kissing a player without her consent during the Women’s World Cup awards ceremony.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Gareth Southgate: ‘I am the problem’

    Gareth Southgate has admitted being England’s major problem at the European Championship, plunging his future as manager in doubt beyond the tournament.

  • Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Famous win sends Georgians into Euro 2024 last-16 as England get Slovakia

    Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze score on historic day in Gelsenkirchen

  • Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal done deal; Anselmino to Chelsea, Guiu medical; Spurs in new Ramsey bid; Man Utd

    Track all the latest deals, updates, rumours and gossip during the summer window

  • Arsenal confirm summer transfer as newest signing reveals key reason behind move

    The Gunners have bolstered their goalkeeping ranks as they continue to plan for a bright future

  • Life begins at 57 for Japanese striker King Kazu. He acknowledges 'I'm at quite an age'

    Kazuyoshi Miura was matter-of-fact about it this week when he joined Japanese club Atletico Suzuka. “I'm at quite an age," he said in a Tokyo news conference. Miura is 57, and the former Japanese international is still playing after most of his contemporaries have been out of the game for decades.

  • Euro 2024: Last-16 fixtures, results, knockout schedule, group standings

    Knockout stages are now set for Euro 2024

  • Son Heung-min’s father admits hitting academy player with corner flag

    The father of Son Heung-min, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, has admitted to hitting one of his South Korean football academy students with a corner flag after denying allegations of physical and verbal abuse.

  • Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo saved by stewards as fan jumps from stands at Euro 2024

    Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of another European Championship security scare after a fan almost landed on him jumping from the stands.

  • Chelsea: What Alexander Isak has said about Newcastle exit amid Blues interest

    Chelsea have reportedly made contact over a huge summer deal

  • Lionel Messi, battered by Chile and ‘playing with pain,’ gets lift from Argentina teammates at Copa América

    In a return to the site of his most painful Copa América memory, Lionel Messi and Argentina battled Chile to a near repeat of their 2016 heartbreak until a late goal from Lautaro Martínez secured the win and showcased the evolution of La Albiceleste.

  • NBA Draft: Lakers select Tennessee star Dalton Knecht with No. 17 overall pick after surprising slide

    Dalton Knecht, 23, was the oldest player selected in the draft when the Lakers picked him at No. 17.

  • Arsenal handed Victor Osimhen transfer boost as new update delivered

    The Gunners and Chelsea have both been strongly linked with the Nigerian international, who is expected to leave Napoli this summer

  • NBA Draft: Timberwolves trade with Spurs for No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham

    Fresh off a breakout season, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded into the lottery Wednesday night.

  • France to face Belgium in last-16 at Euro 2024 as line-up takes shape

    France and Belgium, the world's second and third best teams respectively in the Fifa rankings, will meet in the last-16 at Euro 2024 next Monday in Dusseldorf after the line-up for the knockout stages was completed on Wednesday night. Georgia, who are competing at the competition for the first time, beat Portugal 2-0 to move into the last-16 where they will face Spain. "I don't have a lot of words so I will try to stay basic and say that I'm so proud of the players because what an image they hav

  • 2024 NBA Draft: Winners and losers from the first round, featuring the Spurs, Grizzlies and France

    Here is a stab at a first draft of history — a thumbnail sketch of who had a pretty good first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, and who might wind up looking back at the evening wistfully, with some regret.

  • England need to change – and that means dropping Jude Bellingham

    The 20-year-old is England’s future but he is not playing like someone who can help them in the present at Euro 2024

  • Why Finns are deadly serious about hobby horsing

    A buzz of excitement crackled through the hushed arena as the rider gripped the reins of her stuffed steed.Welcome to the strangely exacting world of hobby horsing, the Finnish sport guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Immaculately-coiffed equestrians leap athletically over fences just like in horse jumping, going as fast as they can against the clock straddling their stick steeds.Things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their stick horses with intricately decorated stuffed heads before the discerning eyes of the judges.Some 260 riders from 22 countries -- most women and girls aged between 10 and 20 -- turned up to compete at the 11th annual Finnish championship held in the town of Seinajoki.But despite its vast international reach, from the Arctic to Argentina, hobby horsing is a sport that dares not speak its name.- 'Insane' athleticism -Despite its soaring popularity, it is not officially recognised as a proper sport in its birthplace."We have faced so much bullying and judgement," rider Nara Arlin, 24, told AFP."We know what everyone in the hobby horsing has been through... I think that is the main thing that pulls us together."First invented in Finland more than a decade ago, hobby horsing has taken off at a gallop across the globe. "It is growing every year," said Julia Mikkonen, the chair of the Finnish hobby horse association.This year's championship was "the biggest we have had so far", she added.Beyond the whimsy, great strength and skill is required to jump the obstacles while holding the hobby horse. Some top competitors could give elite hurdlers or gymnasts a run for their money."If you jump over obstacles your hip mobility has to be absolutely insane," said Mikkonen, 20, with some fences up to 110 centimetres (3.6 feet) tall. - 10,000 enthusiasts -"Of course we are all dreaming of having a world championship one day," said Mikkonen, who estimates there are around 10,000 hobby horsers globally."I am still a bit breathless but I am happy with my performance", said 19-year-old Jojo Hanninen as she sat down after her dressage event. To succeed in the sport you have to channel your inner centaur, she said."In hobby horsing, my legs are the horse... I am both horse and human," she said. Hanninen's hobby horse is a grey called Toope, with glittery reins and pink ribbons adorning its white mane.- Welcoming community -Competitors go to great lengths with their horses -- which are also exhibited and judged -- modelling and sewing the heads and adorning them with decorations.  "Hobby horses are art," said Arlin, who makes her own.With the cheers of the crowd still ringing in her ears after an impressive show jumping round, she hailed the sport as "the best hobby ever"."You are doing so many things with your hands, brain and the whole body."Like many of her peers, Arlin found hobby horsing through play as a child. "But the older I became, it became more serious," said the rider, who trains by riding real horses, working out in the gym and doing pole dancing.Rainbow flags in the arena reflected the tolerant values underpinning the community.   "Horses are mostly seen as a girls' sport, but that is not correct. Anyone can come no matter what gender," Mikkonen said.   Every enthusiast AFP spoke to praised the welcoming community that kept them devoted to hobby horsing despite the scornful attitudes all encountered at some point."We have each other's backs," said Arlin. ank/po/fg/smw

  • Euro 2024: Who will England play next and when? Possible opponents for last-16 knockout stage

    The Three Lions top Group C despite a laboured goalless draw against Slovenia in Cologne

  • West Ham sign goalkeeper Wes Foderingham on two-year deal

    The goalkeeper will join on July 1 once his Sheffield United contract expires

  • Tottenham plot new Jacob Ramsey bid and eye Lille striker Jonathan David

    Spurs consider fresh midfielder approach after initial £20m offer plus Giovani Lo Celso was rebuffed by Aston Villa