Spanish Football Federation Boss Investigated For Gratification Case

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JAKARTA - Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) interim president Pedro Rocha will be investigated in connection with a gratification case that hit Spanish football, law enforcement sources said.

Rocha attended a trial on the outskirts of Madrid on Friday, April 12, local time as a witness, in a case involving former RFED president Luis Rubiales.

However, the judge suspended Rocha's statement and made himself the party investigated in the gratification case. Rubiales is scheduled to testify on April 29.

He was detained by the police upon arrival in Spain from the Dominican Republic on April 3 as part of an investigation.

As reported by ANTARA, Rocha has the opportunity to replace Rubiales as president, as reported by Spanish media that two other candidates, Carlos Herrera and Eva Parera, were unable to collect at least 21 votes supporting RFEF directors. Rocha is said to have pocketed 107 votes in support.

In March, the Spanish police searched 11 locations, including the headquarters of the RFEF and the house of Rubiales in Granada, as part of an investigation into corruption and other crimes.

RFEF contracts signed since 2018 have been examined, including one contract that Rubiales took care of to host the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Spanish Super Cup contracts are worth 40 million euros per year. The deal was run by Kosmos, a company owned by former Spanish national team defender and Barcelona Gerard Pique.

Rubiales resigned as President of the RFEF in September 2023, after the case he kissed World Cup star Putri Jenni Hermoso caused a stir last August.