Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza Strip hospitals received 120 martyrs and 557 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis

Gerard Pique made money from shady Saudi deal: Leaks

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Apr 2022 15:44
4 Min Read

Gerard Pique orchestrated a contract that guaranteed him $6 million over six years for each edition of the Spanish Super Cup competition, according to the leaked documents.

  • x
  • Football player Gerard Piqué
    Gerard Piqué, Barcelona football star

New leaked documents and recordings unmasked that Barcelona football star Gerard Pique was involved in bringing the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, a deal from which his company profited.

El Confidencial reported, on Monday, that Pique collaborated with Spain's football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales to negotiate a deal with the Saudi regime to bring the tournament to the kingdom.

The Spanish Super Cup was a tournament held between 1982 and 2018 between the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey, consisting of two legs played at the participants' home stadiums.

In 2019, it was expanded to a four-team tournament featuring the winners and runners-up of Spain's first division as well as the country's annual knockout cup competition, and was held at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

Since then, Saudi Arabia has agreed to host the competition until at least 2029.

El 15 de septiembre de 2019, Rubiales envió un audio a Piqué en un tono propio de dos socios que comparten intereses económicos. "Geri, enhorabuena. Ya son más de las 12 y por lo tanto ya es firme el acuerdo con Arabia Saudí" #SupercopaFileshttps://t.co/fC8aW4G4Ge pic.twitter.com/FB2obq2qCq

— El Confidencial (@elconfidencial) April 18, 2022

Common interests

The RFEF agreed to a contract that guaranteed a staggering $68 million for each edition of the competition, according to the leaked documents.

Pique's sports investment company, Kosmos, would be paid $6 million for each edition over a six-year period, for a total of $31 million.

The contract stated that if Pique's firm did not receive its payments on time, the competition could be canceled at any time.

Related News

Luis Rubiales refuses to step down as Spanish FA chief

Furthermore, El Confidencial obtained a leaked recording in which the 35-year-old defender proposes how the payments should be divided, in response to Rubiales's doubts about whether Real Madrid would agree to participate.

"If it's about money and [Real Madrid] would go for $9 million, then they get paid $9 million and Barcelona gets paid $9 million, too, then the others get paid $2.3 million and $1.2 million," Pique says. 

"That's $21.5m and you, the federation, keep $6.5m," he stressed.

Read More: The Washington Post: PGA golfers who play in Saudi Arabia accept blood money

 

"Push Saudi Arabia for more money"

The Barcelona defender stated that they could "even push Saudi Arabia for more," implying that Real Madrid might not participate otherwise.

Rubiales congratulates Pique after the deal is finalized in another message from September 2019.

"Well done Geri, and I'm not talking about your great game and goal yesterday," the RFEF president says. 

"I'm referring to the fact that the agreement is signed with Saudi Arabia, “he added.

"Thanks for everything and I'm here for whatever you need."

Pique, who has been a Barcelona player since 2008, has been heavily involved in media and business interests while still playing at the highest level.

This includes bringing Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten on board as a sponsor for Barcelona, reshaping the Davis Cup tennis tournament in a $3 billion reshuffling, and purchasing the Spanish football club FC Andorra.

A long history of whitewashing, sport washing 

Recently, Saudi Arabia has been using the star-studded faces of international celebrities to whitewash its slate, in addition to hosting sports and cultural events, such as the most recent Formula One event that 'enjoyed' a Justin Bieber performance, among many others. 

Read More: 2021 Roundup: Sportswashing human rights violations

 

Human Rights Watch, within this context, contended that “Saudi Arabia has a history of using celebrities and major international events to deflect scrutiny from its pervasive abuses.”

A report by the Human Rights Watch reveals that Saudi Arabia is funneling billions of dollars into entertainment and events aimed at whitewashing its horrendous slate of human rights abuses, from torture reports to murdering journalists, and executing dissidents.

  • Barcelona
  • RFEF
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Human Rights
  • Gerard Pique
  • Pique

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS