Podemos and independentistas ask for a commission of investigation into Rubiales' time in the Football Federation

This is Podemos's first initiative in collaboration with these groups after moving to the Mixed Group.

MADRID, 27 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

ERC, Bildu, Podemos and BNG have registered a request for an investigation in Congress into alleged irregularities in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), following the Luis Rubiales case and various suspicions of alleged economic crimes, espionage or of coercion.

In this way, it is the first initiative that Podemos shares, after breaking with Sumar and moving to the Mixed Group, which it subscribes to with these sovereignist formations, with which it seeks to strengthen alliances and form a progressive parliamentary bloc in the chamber.

According to the petition promoted by these groups, the "scandal" of the last Women's Soccer World Cup with the alleged sexual assault of the former president of the Federation on the player Jenni Hermoso at the celebration of the tournament, denounced by her, has exposed the "machismo" that prevails in the institution.

"It is important to remember that far from being an isolated or punctual event, Luis Rubiales' behavior is a consequence of the impunity that hundreds of members and senior officials (of the federation) enjoy or have enjoyed to date," the four parties state in their initiative.

After reviewing the events of those days and questioning the management of the RFEF and its resistance to applying measures against Rubiales, they explain that the commission will aim to analyze personal conduct that may constitute a gender crime, compliance with the protocols against harassment and abuse, the functioning of the bodies responsible for determining responsibilities in the event of aggression and compliance with the Equality Plan.

In turn, the commission would also focus on economic remuneration in the RFEF with a gender perspective, the alleged collection of irregular commissions or undue and unjustified expenses by its directors, and possible personal responsibilities in the alleged administration. disloyalty of the association.

For example, they allude to the fact that the remuneration of members of senior management went from 1.8 to 7 million in three years (2018-2021), with the RFEF being an entity that receives close to 14 million public euros per year through of the Higher Sports Council. A figure that has reached 47 million since July 2019, in reference to Rubiales' mandate.

In this sense, the four formations consider it necessary to clarify the alleged irregularities that "weigh down the image of the RFEF", supposedly designed to promote grassroots football and which, having been declared of public utility and receiving public funds, must also be of its associates and current legislation.

And another field that they want to address other "scandals" that "devast" the management of the football entity, with a "long shadow of doubts related to alleged crimes of corruption in business, criminal administration" or "collection of commissions.

Among the most notorious alleged irregularities, Rubiales' conversation with former soccer player Gerard Piqué stands out, where they detailed details about the transfer of the Super Cup tournament to Saudi Arabia and which represents a six-year contract with an income of 40 million "tax-free" by season.

In addition to this, the parties proposing the investigation commission state that the former president was reported to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office by his own uncle and former chief of staff of the entity, for an alleged diversion of federation money to "pay for several orgies with friends in the Granada town of Salobreña", accusations that the Federation categorically denied.

And they even mention information about alleged attitudes of espionage, coercion and pressure when mentioning information published by the newspaper 'El Confidencial', where it is stated that Rubiales had recorded "compromising" conversations in recent years with different ministers of Pedro Sánchez's Government.

Therefore, the commission sets the objective of proposing "control and transparency measures to prevent any irregularity from being repeated in the future."