Gerard Pique, the former Barcelona and Manchester United star, is now officially under investigation by a Spanish court. The investigation centers on Pique’s involvement in a deal that relocated the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Pique’s company, Kosmos, signed agreements with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), securing 40 million euros (£34 million) for facilitating the deal. The RFEF was set to receive 400 million euros (£340 million).
Judge Delia Rodrigo highlighted “possible illegalities with criminal implications” within these agreements. The 37-year-old ex-Spain international, Pique, has consistently defended the deal, claiming it was “legal” and denying any wrongdoing. However, he is now formally included in the group of people under investigation.
The case has been ongoing since 2022, following leaked audio recordings of Pique and then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales discussing the deal. In March, investigators raided RFEF offices, and Rubiales, who has also maintained the deal’s legality, was arrested in April upon returning from the Dominican Republic. He had already resigned from the RFEF last September after a controversial incident where he kissed Spain forward Jenni Hermoso following the World Cup final. Rubiales is also facing a separate trial for sexual assault related to that incident.
Pedro Rocha, Rubiales’ successor, is also under investigation regarding the Saudi deal. The Spanish Super Cup was first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020 and returned there in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Pique, who retired in November 2022, played twice for Barcelona in Spanish Super Cups held in Saudi Arabia.
