Real Madrid

Vice president of Spanish federation detained

Published Oct. 30, 2018 3:49 p.m. ET

MADRID (AP) — Authorities have detained a vice president of the Spanish soccer federation in an operation investigating alleged embezzlement.

Andreu Subies was detained on Tuesday as part of Operation Soule, which last year led to the arrest of then president Angel Maria Villar on corruption charges.

Subies, picked by current president Luis Rubiales to run the federation's financial department, was under investigation for alleged irregularities during the time he was in charge of the Catalan federation.

The Catalan federation said Tuesday it handed over documents requested by authorities at its headquarters.

The Spanish federation said it was committed to justice and respected the judicial actions that were underway. It also said it respects everyone's right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Rubiales took over the Spanish federation earlier this year following three decades of reign by Villar. He said transparency would be paramount in his administration.

One of Rubiales' first actions in charge of the federation was to fire national team coach Julen Lopetegui just two days before the team's World Cup opener for not communicating that he had accepted a job with Real Madrid.

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