Gerard Pique, the legendary Barcelona and Spain defender, testified in court on Friday as a suspect in a corruption investigation surrounding the lucrative contracts that took the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Pique denied paying kickbacks to Spain’s disgraced former football federation chief, Luis Rubiales, or anyone else from the federation.
The investigation centers around the deals brokered by Kosmos, a company owned by Pique, which are worth 40 million euros a year. The court had previously stated that there were “possible illegalities with criminal implications,” including a clause to “guarantee the payment of a commission of four million euros per year to Kosmos.”
Pique told the court in Majadahonda near Madrid that he paid “nothing” to Rubiales or anyone else from the federation, according to legal sources. The sources added that Pique became emotional during his testimony, speaking of “the reputational damage” the media coverage of the deal had caused over three years.
“I am surprised that as of today there are still leaks,” Pique said. The testimony comes as part of an ongoing investigation, and a trial may follow if formal charges are presented.
The scandal surrounding the Spanish Super Cup’s transfer to Saudi Arabia has further tarnished the image of Spanish football and Rubiales. Rubiales was recently found guilty of sexual assault for forcibly kissing star forward Jenni Hermoso in 2023 and was fined 10,800 euros.
The verdict was widely criticized by feminist groups for being too lenient, and both Hermoso and Rubiales have appealed the decision. Prosecutors have demanded a retrial, seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence against Rubiales.
The transfer of the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, which expanded the tournament to a four-team format, was one of several controversies during Rubiales’ tenure as head of the football federation. The move angered traditionalists and has led to widespread criticism of the federation’s leadership.
*Investigation Details:*
– _Suspect:_ Gerard Pique
– _Charges:_ Corruption, paying kickbacks
– _Investigation Stage:_ Ongoing
– _Possible Trial:_ If formal charges are presented