After several hours of testimony before the Magistrate of Majadahonda (Madrid) on Monday, he was released, but with two precautionary measures to ensure his cooperation with the court: to appear in court once a month and to report any travel outside his country.

The magistrate investigating the Brodi case is looking into whether he and his closest associates in the Spanish football governing body siphoned off nearly four million euros over five years by manipulating contracts. Corruption is suspected in the construction of La Cartuja stadium and the organisation of the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Before the judge, the former leader denied any wrongdoing, as he had stated when he left office. Rubiales, though, is still accused of corruption in business and disloyal administration. "I am the one who is most interested in everything being cleared up," Rubiales said, praising his management of the RFEF. "I have had constant attacks and lawsuits, this is another example, but what I maintain is that there has never been irregular money received, no irregular tenders, we have always acted with the utmost excellence."

"I maintain and will always maintain that I am convinced that justice will be done, there has never been any irregular money received," claimed the Canarian, who fell from grace after the controversial kiss with footballer Jenny Hermoso following the women's team's first world title in Oceania last year.

"There has never been any irregular bidding. In short, we have always acted with the utmost excellence and in the pursuit of legality," he insisted in a brief press conference outside the courthouse, amidst the throng of media waiting for him on the pavement.

Rubiales appeared in court on the first working day after Pedro Rocha was proclaimed the new president of the RFEF last Friday, as he was the only candidate to have been presented with the required minimum of 21 endorsements, as required by the statutes. The summary of the case includes several reports from the Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard, in which agents reflect the existence of a "corporate environment made up of high-ranking RFEF officials close to Luis Rubiales".

It is suspected that Saudi Arabia offered the group commissions to ensure that the Super Cup was held in that country and not in Qatar, which was another contender to host the final at the time.

Investigators are looking into whether the Kosmos group, chaired by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, or the footballer himself, offered financial or other gifts to Rubiales or other executives to force the contract negotiations.

In addition to the events surrounding the sale of the Super Cup rights, it is also being investigated whether bribes, favours or money were paid in exchange for the awarding of the contract for the La Cartuja stadium in Seville to the company Gruconsa. It should be clarified that the company is not formally under investigation in this case.

Regardless of the innocence or guilt of Rubiales, the fact is that Spanish football is in a deep crisis of credibility, which has led the Superior Council of Sports (CSD) to set up a commission to monitor the functioning of the entity over the coming months.