Gerard Pique, a former Barcelona and Manchester United defender, has been officially investigated by a court in Spain over his alleged involvement in a deal that saw the Spanish Super Cup moved to Saudi Arabia. Despite retiring from playing in 2022, Pique’s company, Kosmos, signed agreements with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that would see it receive 40 million euros for brokering the deal.
The investigation into the matter intensified when RFEF offices were raided by investigators in March and Rubiales was arrested upon his return from a trip to the Dominican Republic in April. The case has been ongoing since 2022, when audio recordings of Pique and then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales discussing the deal were leaked. Judge Delia Rodrigo has suggested there may be illegalities with criminal implications in these agreements.
Pedro Rocha, Rubiales’ successor at the RFEF, is also under investigation for his role in the Saudi deal. The Spanish Super Cup was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020 and returned there in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pique played for Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup games held in Saudi Arabia prior to his retirement and is now navigating the legal implications of his involvement in this controversial deal.
Despite being formally included among those under investigation over alleged matters related to this deal, Pique has consistently defended it and denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that it was legal. However, Judge Rodrigo has raised concerns about possible illegalities with criminal implications due to these agreements.
The case against Pique and others involved has been ongoing since 2022 when audio recordings of their discussions about this matter were leaked. With Pedro Rocha also under investigation for his role in this controversy, it remains uncertain what will happen next for all parties involved.
