Rubiales files a complaint against Tebas before the TAS

New escalation in the institutional conflict in Spanish football. The former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has filed a complaint with the Administrative Court of Sport (TAD) against Javier Tebas for alleged abuse of power.

Luis Rubiales requests the opening of a disciplinary file and the suspension of Tebas from all his positions, including his recent appointment as vice-president of the RFEF.

Facts, evidence, context and requests of Rubiales' complaint against Tebas

According to information published by OK Diario, the complaint is based on the accusation that the president of LaLiga offered a contract to Miguel García Caba, former director of Integrity of the RFEF, with a salary close to 150,000 euros per year, in exchange for access to confidential information from the Federation and Real Madrid.

Luis Rubiales considers that these facts constitute a clear abuse of authority and a very serious infraction according to the Sports Law.

• The complaint focuses on a meeting on May 28, 2022 between Tebas, Gerardo González Otero and Miguel García Caba (then deputy general secretary of the RFEF).

• According to recordings and publications, Tebas allegedly offered García Caba a pre-contract of 150,000 euros per year to leave the RFEF and join the LNFP, in exchange for accessing the RFEF's computer servers and providing confidential information from both the Federation and Real Madrid.

• Rubiales maintains that these facts constitute an abuse of authority, attempted bribery and a serious violation of the Sports Law, as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Evidence and context of the complaint:

Furthermore, the former president of the RFEF argues that Tebas' actions are part of a strategy to damage his image and weaken his institutional position, especially in the context of the dispute between the Spanish Federation and LaLiga over the control of the audiovisual rights of Spanish football.

• Part of the conversations were recorded by García Caba, who later stated that he rejected the requests because he considered them illegal.

• The complaint alleges that Tebas' objective was to harm Rubiales' image and weaken his institutional and commercial position, especially in the context of the dispute over the audiovisual rights of Spanish football.

• Rubiales also points out that these actions were part of a coordinated strategy to force his departure from the presidency of the RFEF, including leaks and criminal complaints.

Requests of Luis Rubiales:

• That the TAD open a disciplinary file and provisionally suspend Tebas for very serious infractions.

• That, once the procedure has begun, the highest possible sanction be imposed on him.

Current situation of Javier Tebas

Javier Tebas, in an archive image

The TAD had already publicly reprimanded Tebas in September 2024 for not adequately informing Real Madrid about LaLiga's agreement with the CVC fund. This new complaint could lead to more severe sanctions, including Tebas' disqualification from holding positions in sports entities.

• Tebas was already publicly reprimanded by the TAD in September 2024 following another complaint from Real Madrid, which leaves him in a situation of warning: any new serious infraction could lead to his disqualification as president of LaLiga.

• There are other open files against Tebas, including one for revealing Real Madrid's vote in an assembly, which could also be considered a very serious offense.

Luis Rubiales' complaint represents an escalation in the institutional conflict in Spanish football and, if successful, could mean the end of Javier Tebas' presidency at the head of LaLiga, marking a possible change of course in the management of professional football in Spain.