April 20 – Famed Spanish international defender Gerard Pique claims he has done nothing illegal after his sports event company, Kosmos, was reportedly paid a massive €24 million as part of the deal to move the Spanish Super Cup to the Middle East.
Pique, who recently was reported to be considering coming out of retirement to play for Spain at the World Cup after seemingly calling it quits after the 2018 tournament in Russia, has dismissed any wrongdoing over his involvement in helping the Spanish FA secure a deal to relocate the Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.
According to El Confidencial, the contract negotiated by the federation includes Kosmos receiving €4 million for each of the six tournaments to be played in Saudi Arabia from 2020, while the federation receives €40 million for each competition.
“Pique had a key role in the negotiations for the Spanish Super Cup to be hosted in Saudi Arabia, and throughout this process enjoyed preferential treatment from (federation president) Luis Rubiales, for reasons yet to be determined. A spokesperson for Pique has denied that he received any special treatment,” El Confidencial reported on Monday saying it had acquired a leaked audio.
But the Barcelona defender angrily responded: “I have absolutely nothing to hide, it’s all legal. It’s a malicious leak. What is news is the audio leak itself, which has been illegally leaked. Not the information in it.”
“We wanted to change the format of the competition and make it more interesting for the viewer. That has repercussions on income. The president, Luis Rubiales, really liked the idea. Saudi Arabia was not the only option. The United States and Qatar were on the table. In the end, they decided to go to Saudi Arabia.
He continued: “We can debate the morality of it but… I see no ethical issues or conflict of interest. It’s the opposite, I feel proud for the spectacular job we have done bringing the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia.”
Repeatedly quizzed by reporters. Pique added: “We will take legal action against the publication of the audios. I was just trying to help the president (Rubiales) have a formula that was financially logical for the FA and the clubs. Commercial issues have nothing to do with sporting ones.”
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