These days, footballer Gerard Piqué has been at the center of the controversy in Spain after the website El Confidencial reported that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) negotiated a commission of 24 million euros (USD 26 million) for the company Kosmos, belonging to the Barcelona player, to take over to bring the Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Among the documents presented in the investigation were private audio messages between the human rights defender and Luis Rubiales, president of the body that governs Spanish football.
The one who referred to the matter this Wednesday was Xavi Hernánez, Pique's former teammate and current Barcelona coach. At his press conference, the Catalan coach tried to calm the situation, but his words generated even more controversy: “He is like that, a very outgoing person who likes to be on people's lips”. In this regard, he added: “If he were distracted or lacked concentration, I am the first one who would warn him, but I think it gives him adrenaline, it's like a drug in the good sense of the word.”
The 35-year-old defender will once again be concentrated with the team for the match against Real Sociedad for matchday 33 of La Liga: “I know him well, he has given us a brutal performance in recent times and we have missed him,” said the coach.
Regarding the controversy over bringing the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia in 2020, Rubiales explained that, after Kosmos approached the RFEF with a proposal to change the format, he spoke with several countries such as the United States, Qatar and China until he opted for Saudi Arabia. “When they come (Kosmos) with the possibility of business they are clearly told that the economic relationship will not be with the Federation,” he said Wednesday at a press conference.
“If there is any kind of commission, Kosmos will have it with Saudi Arabia, so the Federation has not paid, nor does it pay, nor will it pay a single euro in commission to anyone for this operation,” Rubiales said. In turn, the president of the RFEF added that the contract in question is already “out of date” and has been replaced by another one.
Pique himself had already spoken about the matter on Monday at a press conference: “Everything we have made it legal and there has been no conflict of interest”. Asked if it is ethical for an active player to be involved in this type of operation, Rubiales replied: “I wish we had more players like Pique who have other concerns, that they have companies, that is what we want.”
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