Spanish federation denies charges of using funds for party

MADRID (AP) - The Spanish soccer federation has denied accusations by a former employee that federation funds went to pay for a party with 'œyoung ladies'ť and to hire a detective to investigate the head of Spain's players' union.

The federation run by Luis Rubiales issued a statement on Thursday 'œfirmly denying'ť the charges made to state prosecutors by the president's own uncle and his former chief of staff, Juan Rubiales. Juan Rubiales was fired by the federation in July.

The federation released the statement after Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported Juan Rubiales told state prosecutors that federation officials used federation funds to pay for a private party at a rental property that included 'œyoung ladies.'ť

According to El Mundo, Juan Rubiales also accused the federation of paying a private detective to gather information on the head of the players' union.

The federation responded that the alleged party was 'œa work meeting'ť that included Juan Rubiales and the property where it was held was rented by each of its attendants, not with federation funds. It added that 'œnot on that date nor at any other time has one single euro been dedicated to questions that are not related to the running of the federation.'ť

In a separate statement issued later on Thursday, the federation said several federation officials, but not president Luis Rubiales, will sue Juan Rubiales for slander and defamation.

Luis Rubiales, a UEFA vice-president, is leading Spain's and Portugal's joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.

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