Spanish soccer federation fires executives linked to corruption probe

Reuters has so far been unable to contact the sacked executives and has asked GC Legal for comment. Police on Wednesday searched the federation's headquarters and an apartment belonging to its former President Luis Rubiales, arresting seven people as part of an investigation over alleged corruption that includes a deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.

Spain's soccer federation (RFEF) on Thursday fired two executives it said were linked to a multimillion-euro corruption probe, adding that the case had caused "very serious damage" to the sport's image in the country.

Pedro Gonzalez Segura, director of legal services, and Jose Javier Jimenez, director of human resources, have been removed from their positions, RFEF said in a statement. "The Royal Spanish Football Federation has opened disciplinary proceedings and has removed from their jobs and functions the managers related to the legal case being heard by Court 4 in Majadahonda..." the RFEF added in a statement.

The federation also terminated a contract with its external legal counsel Tomas Gonzalez Cueto of GC Legal, and has cancelled his powers to represent the federation in legal cases, along with his partner Ramon Caravaca. Reuters has so far been unable to contact the sacked executives and has asked GC Legal for comment.

Police on Wednesday searched the federation's headquarters

and an apartment belonging to its former President Luis Rubiales, arresting seven people as part of an investigation over alleged corruption that includes a deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. A Spanish court has been investigating since June 2022 if Rubiales committed a crime of improper management when the RFEF agreed with former Barcelona player Gerard Pique's Kosmos firm to move the tournament, a judicial source said on Wednesday.

Rubiales did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment but he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In an interview with El Espanol published on Thursday Rubiales said he would cooperate with the investigation.

"I have never done anything wrong. I will answer everything," he was quoted as saying by El Espanol. It is the second scandal in less than a year to rock Spain's highest football body, coming after Rubiales was forced to step down for an unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso after the Women's World Cup final, and as the federation attempted to announce elections for a new president.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)