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Former Leeds chief arrested in Dubai after ‘financial irregularities’ claim Former Leeds chief arrested in Dubai after ‘financial irregularities’ claim
(about 9 hours later)
David Haigh, the former managing director of Leeds United, has been arrested in Dubai and held for three nights in prison after the club’s former owners Gulf Finance House made allegations of financial irregularities relating to the recent sale of United. David Haigh, the former managing director of Leeds United, has been arrested in Dubai and held for three nights in prison after Gulf Finance House, the former owner, made allegations of financial irregularities relating to the recent sale of the club.
Haigh, who denies the allegations, was arrested shortly after arriving in Dubai and has been in custody since then. GFH – the investment bank that bought Leeds from Ken Bates in December 2012 before selling them to the Italian businessman Massimo Cellino last month – has made the accusations relating to its time as owners of the club. Haigh, who denies all allegations, was arrested shortly after arriving in Dubai and has been in custody since then. GFH – the investment bank that bought Leeds from Ken Bates in December 2012 before selling the club to the Italian businessman Massimo Cellino in April this year – has made the accusations relating to its time as owner of the club.
Haigh previously worked for GFH Capital, a subsidiary of GFH, but left his position with the organisation this year. He played a key role in Cellino’s takeover, worth more than £30m, and had been in line to become chief executive in the new regime before resigning from Leeds shortly after the Italian’s takeover. Haigh previously worked for GFH Capital, a subsidiary of GFH, but left his position with the organisation this year. He played a key role in Cellino’s takeover, worth more than £30m, and had been in line to become chief executive in the new regime before resigning from Leeds shortly after the Italian was cleared to buy United by the Football League following a lengthy appeal process.
A friend of the 36-year-old’s said: “David has done absolutely nothing wrong or illegal. He is appalled to find himself in this position. A friend of the 36-year-old’s said: “David has done absolutely nothing wrong or illegal. He is appalled to find himself in this position. However, as someone who knows Dubai well and respects its institutions he is confident that the authorities will see these allegations for what they really are and clear him from any wrongdoing.”
“However, as someone who knows Dubai well and respects its institutions he is confident that the authorities will see these allegations for what they really are and clear him from any wrongdoing.” A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Dubai on 18 May 2014. We are providing consular assistance.”
Haigh’s consortium Sport Capital, who had launched a bid to buy the club from GFH, served a winding-up order against Leeds last month over a £950,000 loan. The case will be heard in London on 9 June. It is the latest twist in a series of extraordinary events surrounding Leeds in recent months, starting when GFH decided to sell the club because of spiraling debts. Before Cellino’s takeover it was losing more than £1m a month and the Italian has been ruthless in controversial cost-cutting since arriving, temporarily closing the training ground, Thorp Arch, and making a significant number of staff redundant.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the arrest of a British National in Dubai on 18 May 2014. We are providing consular assistance.” The future of the Leeds manager, Brian McDermott, appears in serious doubt and Benito Carbone, a former Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford midfielder, has been appointed as a technical and football consultant. Cellino has ordered the players and manager to cut their holidays short and return early for pre-season training.
Haigh was interviewed by West Yorkshire police this month after allegations from Cellino that thousands of pounds in club money were fraudulently used to pay for security cameras at the stadium, found in the boardroom toilets at Elland Road. Haigh says that the surveillance equipment was “properly paid for by the club” and that it was installed because of alleged “recent misuse of class-A drugs” on the premises.
Haigh’s consortium, Sport Capital, which had been in the running to buy the club from GFH, has issued a winding-up petition against Leeds for an unpaid loan of around £1m. The case is due to be heard in London on 9 June.