FORMER Barcelona defender Gerard Pique broke down in tears when quizzed by a Madrid decide on Friday over an alleged corrupt enterprise deal.
It concerned a profitable settlement that noticed Spanish Tremendous Cup matches being hosted in Saudi Arabia.
Pique in a closing assertion informed the decide that he has ‘suffered rather a lot’ and that the case had tarnished his repute, earlier than bursting into tears.
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Pique earlier acknowledged that each one the commissions he made have been ‘regular’.
A courtroom is probing suspicions of corruption and cash laundering following a giant deal made by former Spanish soccer federation president, Luis Rubiales, in 2019.
Rubiales himself has achieved infamy for his Jenni Hermoso kiss in August 2023 and was convicted final month of sexual assault.
The Madrid courtroom has stated the Spanish federation and the Saudi Arabian firm Sela Sports activities signed contracts in 2019 and 2020 to seal a 10-year settlement to host the Tremendous Cup match for €40 million every year.
A further €4 million per yr was to be paid as a fee to Pique’s sports activities leisure firm Kosmos whereas Pique was nonetheless enjoying for Barcelona and taking part within the Tremendous Cup.
Pique, the previous husband of pop star Shakira, subsequently retired from soccer and has denied doing something incorrect.
Prosecutors began an investigation of the deal in 2022 following leaked audio between Rubiales and Pique relating to tens of millions of euros in commissions.
Rubiales pleaded his innocence when questioned by the decide in April final yr, whereas Pique was positioned beneath investigation the next month.
The case continues to be in its early ‘investigative’ section with the decide deciding whether or not or not there’s sufficient proof to take the matter to trial.
