Luis Rubiales

In March 2010, Rubiales was elected president of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE).[11][12][13] He quit his post in November 2017 with the intention of running for office at the Royal Spanish Football Federation.[14]

Rubiales was elected as the RFEF president in May 2018.[15] Upon taking office he vowed to establish a fixed wage for the leaders of the regional federations (hitherto the exception rather than the norm), thereby endowing each of the entities with €100,000 for their professionalisation.[16] Dissenting voices within the RFEF reportedly silenced thereafter.[16]

In one of his first actions as president, Rubiales dismissed the Spanish national men's team head coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, having not been informed by the latter that he was negotiating to become the new manager of Real Madrid.[17]

On 8 September 2018, Rubiales gave an interview in which he criticised the Spanish League president Javier Tebas for signing a contract that would see matches being played in the United States. The former explained that the deal was "worthless" without the Spanish Federation's approval.[18]

On 25 March 2023, the RFEF recognised 1937 Copa de la España Libre winners Levante FC, now replaced by Levante UD, as the equivalent of winning the Copa del Rey.[19] Rubiales then handed the trophy to the 2023 captain of Levante, Vicente Iborra, before their match against Real Zaragoza on 31 March.[20]

On 18 April 2022, the Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial published some leaked documents and audio files that they called Supercopa Files,[21] which included conversations that took place in 2019 between Rubiales and the footballer and businessman Gerard Piqué. The audio files find Rubiales negotiating to pay Piqué commissions related to playing the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia.[22] One of the conditions for these commissions was that two of the four participating teams would need to be Barcelona (Piqué's club at the time) and Real Madrid. Rubiales would also benefit from these commissions due to the variable part of his salary in the federation.[23]

In 2022, Rubiales' uncle and former chief of staff Juan Rubiales accused Luis Rubiales of embezzlement of RFEF money, allegedly spent on private parties with a group of friends in a house in Salobreña in 2020.[24] He has also been accused of using federation resources for his personal enjoyment, such as a trip to New York in 2018 accompanied by a Mexican painter.[25] Juan Rubiales also accused his nephew of devising an espionage scheme against AFE president David Aganzo.[24]

In December 2022, Rubiales filed a lawsuit against Wikipedia demanding that content on the Spanish Wikipedia which might be seen as damaging to his honour be removed.[26] The complaint was filed through the legal department of the RFEF. The lawsuit focuses on Wikipedia content about scandals including negotiations for the sale of the Supercopa de España to Saudi Arabia said to involve commissions and personal benefits, and derogatory WhatsApp postings about teams in the Spanish league.[27]

After Spain won the Women's World Cup in August 2023, Rubiales kissed Spain's midfielder Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the medal presentation;[28] Hermoso later indicated during her Instagram live stream that she did not like the kiss.[29] In the locker room, he reportedly put his arm around her and said: "There, we will celebrate the wedding of Jenni and Luis Rubiales" in Ibiza.[30]

Rubiales was earlier spotted grabbing his crotch while standing in the authorities' box near Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Infanta Sofía.[31] Rubiales subsequently faced widespread criticism for his celebrations, including from American footballer Megan Rapinoe.[32] Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez also called for him to resign.[33] Rubiales apologised for his conduct, stating that his celebrations were "in a moment of euphoria".[34]

The AFE issued an official statement that if Rubiales did not resign immediately, they would demand that the Sports Law be applied against him.[35] According to Grupo Vocento's Relevo, he reportedly begged Hermoso to appear next to him in an apology video, while Jorge Vilda made several unsuccessful requests to Hermoso's family for her to come out in support of Rubiales.[36] The RFEF also sent to EFE an incorrect statement saying Hermoso condoned Rubiales' behaviour.[36][37] Acting through her players' union Futpro, Hermoso asked the RFEF, without directly mentioning Rubiales, "to ensure the rights of [Futpro] players and to take exemplary measures".[38][39]

Liga F filed a complaint before the High Sports Council (CSD) asking for his disqualification.[40] The worldwide representative organisation for professional footballers, the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO), called for immediate action and investigation of his actions under the FIFA code of ethics.[41] The RFEF announced that it would hold an emergency Extraordinary General Assembly on 25 August.[42] Meanwhile, on 24 August, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee opened disciplinary proceedings against him.[43]

Although it was expected by the press that Rubiales would be resigning during the emergency Extraordinary General Assembly of the RFEF on 25 August,[44][45] he instead refused to resign and said: "A social assassination is taking place. I don't deserve this manhunt I have been suffering."[34] Rubiales also spoke to Jorge Vilda about his desire to offer the manager a new 4-year contract on €0.5 million a year.[46]

On the same day, two Spanish men's national team and Real Betis players, Héctor Bellerín[47][48] and Borja Iglesias, criticised Rubiales on social media, with the latter refusing to play for Spain until Rubiales resigned.[49][50] Two former Spain national goalkeepers, 2010 world champion Iker Casillas and David de Gea, also criticised Rubiales' speech on X.[48][49]

On 25 August 2023, the Spanish government filed a complaint in the Sports Administrative Court for "serious misconduct" with the aim of obtaining authorisation to suspend him from his duties.[51][52] Later that day, 81 players, including all 23 from the championship-winning squad, released a joint statement pledging to boycott the national team until there were changes to RFEF leadership.[53]

A friendly football event in support of Rubiales named Amigos de Luis Rubiales ("Luis Rubiales' Friends") featuring CF Motril, CD Costa Tropical, and Puerto de Motril was set for 26 August 2023 in Motril, with Rubiales' confirmed attendance.[54][55] The Ayuntamiento of Motril brought the initiative down by declining to lease the municipally-owned venue Escribano Castilla Stadium on the basis of potential disturbances of public order.[55]

On 26 August 2023, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days, and directed him and the RFEF to refrain from attempting to contact Hermoso directly or indirectly.[56]

On 28 August, his mother, Angeles Bejar, went on hunger strike in a church in Motril as a protest against the "inhumane and bloody hunt that they are doing with my son." Rubiales' cousin, Vanessa Ruiz, accused the media of harassment and said that Rubiales had been "judged before his time."[57]

Rubiales' salary, which reached US $688,462.06 (€634,518.19) in 2021, as well as his right to have an official car from the RFEF, were cancelled. He was also requested to return his corporate laptop and phone, and will be blocked from using RFEF's funds to pay for his own legal defence.[58]

In an interview with El Confidencial published on 30 August, his uncle and former colleague Juan Rubiales described Luis as someone obsessed with power, luxury, money and women, adding that the latter's behaviour was embarrassing and that he needed "a social re-education program".[59]

On 1 September, a Spanish sports court opened an administrative investigation into Rubiales. However, the probe was filed as a "serious misconduct" not a "very serious misconduct", which blocked the Spanish government from suspending him as head of the RFEF pending the investigation, and potentially allows his return to RFEF's presidency when FIFA's 90-day provisional suspension ends.[60][61]

On 10 September, he resigned his positions as the Federation's president and as vice-president of UEFA.[62]