Luis Rubiales arrested upon arrival from Dominican Republic in Madrid

Madrid, Spain.- Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), was arrested by the Civil Guard immediately upon his arrival at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport from the Dominican Republic, according to sources close to the case as reported by EFE.

Agents from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) executed the arrest upon Rubiales’ landing at terminal 1, where a Civil Guard van awaited him. He was then transported to Civil Guard offices in Decks.

The purpose of the arrest is to inform Rubiales of his rights, conduct an interrogation, and seize his mobile devices, the sources explained. Subsequently, the judge of Majadahonda (Madrid), who is investigating Rubiales for alleged corruption crimes, will determine the timing of his summons to appear in court.

Rubiales had initially been scheduled to return to Spain from the Dominican Republic on Saturday, but he advanced his return to Wednesday, one day after UCO agents conducted a search of his residence in the Caribbean country, where he had been residing for several months.

Despite speculation, Rubiales’ defense sources told EFE that his return was not prompted by a judicial summons but rather by his own decision to return promptly. They also clarified that he has not yet received any court summons.

The judge’s investigation revolves around potentially irregular contracts within the RFEF over the past five years, coinciding with Rubiales’ tenure as the head of the organization.

Source: EFE