The business proposal
Luis Rubiales, former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), urged several members of the federation’s leadership to partner with him and his friend Javier Martín, known as Nene, in a business project that ultimately did not materialize. The idea was to rehabilitate a building in Granada to convert it into tourist apartments. However, after Rubiales resigned last year, the directors withdrew from the business, leaving Rubiales with his shares, but he has not yet returned the 700,000 euros they contributed together.
Those involved
The business was intended to be carried out at the end of 2022 through the company GRX Export PRO, which included the director of the RFEF cabinet, Chema Timón, the director of institutional relations, Antonio Gómez, and the marketing director, Rubén Rivera, the sports director, Albert Luque, and a trusted man of Rubiales, Tomás González Cueto. In addition, the firm Dismatee Sport SL also contributed funds for the project, with some of those involved investing up to 200,000 euros each.
Pressure and consequences
According to close sources, Rubiales insistently pressured these senior RFEF officials to participate in the business, with some fearing the consequences of not doing so, under threat of being excluded. It is even said that some of the members would have gone into debt in order to join the company. Despite this, Timón, Gómez, Rivera and Luque are not being investigated for any plot related to Rubiales, being considered possible victims of the events by the authorities.
Ongoing investigation
Both Rubiales and his partner Nene are being investigated by the courts for alleged collection of illegal commissions in exchange for awards. Furthermore, it has been revealed that they explored hotel and tourism business opportunities in Cape Verde around 2019, taking advantage of Rubiales’ contacts as president of the RFEF. It is mentioned that they held conversations with the ambassador of the African country in Spain, Ney Cardoso, and with a minister there, with the aim of searching for available land for tourism development.
