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David Haigh

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David Lawrence Haigh
Born
Manchester, United Kingdom
EducationSouthampton University

David Lawrence Haigh is an English businessman and former football executive who was managing director of Leeds United Football Club from 2013 to 2014.[1] He was the first openly gay managing director of an English football club.[2]

In 2015, Haigh was convicted of breach of trust by a Dubai criminal court over the misappropriation of funds from his former employer, GFH Capital, and served 22 months in prison.[3][4] In 2018, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts ruled that he had fraudulently diverted company funds via false invoices; the English High Court and Court of Appeal subsequently enforced the ruling, and he was declared bankrupt in 2020.[3][5][6]

Haigh states that he was tortured and raped while detained;[7] in 2017, a Scottish sheriff in an extradition case accepted his account of his mistreatment.[8] Since his release, he has worked as a self-described human rights lawyer and co-founded the advocacy group Detained International.[9]

Education

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Haigh attended Cape Cornwall School, England.[10] He then studied at the University of Southampton, where he graduated with a degree in law[11] and attended law school at the College of Law in London.[12]

Career

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Haigh is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales but does not hold a practising certificate.[13] Disciplinary proceedings brought against him by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2018, relating to his work for GFH Capital, were later stayed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in 2023 on the grounds of ill health.[14] He joined law firm Palmer Cowen (later Fairmays LLP) in 2001 and has worked at other law firms including DLA Piper and Akin Gump.[citation needed]

Haigh co-founded, with Radha Stirling, the firm Stirling Haigh, an international dispute resolution and crisis management advisory firm, of which he was managing partner.[15]

He co-founded Detained International in 2018, a London-based legal advocacy NGO providing pro bono legal support to individuals alleging injustice and human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East.[16][17]

Haigh was chairman of Conservatives Abroad UAE and vice-chairman of Gulf Tories.[18]

Football

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Haigh led GFH Capital’s negotiations with the then-owner of Leeds United Ken Bates for the acquisition of the club, announced in November 2012.[19] [20] He joined the Leeds United board in February 2013 and was made managing director on 1 July 2013.[21] He resigned on 11 April 2014, following the purchase of the club by Massimo Cellino.

In November 2013, Haigh and Andre Flowers formed a consortium, Sport Capital, in an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a majority stake in the club from GFH Capital; Sport Capital subsequently brought a £33.5 million claim against GFH Capital. [22] [23]

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Arrest and criminal conviction (2014–2016)

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Haigh was arrested in Dubai in May 2014, a month after resigning as Leeds United managing director, over the alleged misappropriation of approximately AED 23.7 million (about US$6.5 million) from GFH Capital.[24][25][26] Haigh said he had been lured to Dubai by GFH on the pretext of discussing a new role.[27][28][29] In August 2015 he was convicted by the Dubai Criminal Court of breach of trust and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.[3]

On the day of his scheduled release, GFH filed a further criminal complaint alleging Haigh had abused the company on Twitter while in jail;[30] he was acquitted of that charge in March 2016 and returned to the UK, having served 22 months.[27][31] Haigh has consistently denied the allegations, saying the case was fabricated to prevent him whistleblowing about GFH's own conduct.[3]

DIFC civil proceedings (2014–2018)

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GFH Capital brought parallel civil proceedings against Haigh in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. Following a four-day trial in July 2018, which Haigh did not attend, Sir Jeremy Cooke - a retired judge of the High Court of England and Wales - found that Haigh had used false invoices to divert GFH funds into his own and a friend's bank accounts, and ordered him to repay more than £3.8 million plus costs, dismissing his counterclaims.[3][32] The judgment found the evidence showed Haigh procuring payments of the claimant's funds to himself, concealed by the creation of false invoices, and rejected his contention that the claims had been fabricated to stop him whistleblowing.[3]

Proceedings in England (2020–2021)

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Haigh sought to resist enforcement of the DIFC judgment in the High Court of England and Wales, arguing it had been procured by fraud. In May 2020, Mr Justice Henshaw ruled that Haigh could not establish a case that the claim against him was fictitious, quoting Cooke J's observation that no coherent explanation had ever been offered for the large sums that reached Haigh's bank accounts via false invoices. Henshaw J found Haigh's non-participation in the enforcement hearing was his "deliberate choice", and a disclosure order carrying a penal notice was issued.[5][6] The decision was the first English High Court enforcement of a DIFC Courts judgment.[5][33]

Haigh was refused permission to appeal, with Lady Justice Carr finding the appeal had no real prospect of success and no arguable error of law or fact.[5]

Haigh was declared bankrupt in August 2020, according to the Insolvency Service register.[6] In 2021, GFH took possession of properties connected to Haigh in Cornwall in enforcement of the judgment debt.[34]

Private prosecution attempt

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While detained, Haigh instructed English lawyers to seek a private prosecution of GFH and its former external lawyer for human trafficking and fraud;[35] the application was subsequently withdrawn, and a later challenge by judicial review was dismissed by the High Court in May 2020.[36]

Regulatory proceedings

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In 2018 the Solicitors Regulation Authority issued disciplinary proceedings against Haigh before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, alleging that he had misappropriated £617,000 held for GFH in the client account of the law firm Gibson Dunn by instructing ten illegitimate payments supported by false invoice details. In March 2023 the tribunal stayed the proceedings on the grounds that medical evidence consistently showed Haigh unfit to participate; the stay may be revisited if he applies for a practising certificate.[37]

Detention conditions and torture allegations

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Haigh has stated that during his detention in Dubai he was subjected to torture and rape, describing being taken from his cell at night, beaten, tasered, struck in the face, and forced to hold stress positions to coerce a confession.[27] He stated that he was initially permitted to see his lawyer for only minutes at a time and was denied access to legal documents.[27] Human Rights Watch took up his case after he was detained a second time, one day before his scheduled release, on a slander charge that was later dropped.[27] Upon his return to the UK in 2016, he filed a complaint with the British embassy and called on the UK government to issue clearer travel warnings for the UAE.[27]

In 2017, Haigh gave evidence over two days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in Lord Advocate (for the Government of the UAE) v. Black, an extradition case in which the UAE sought the extradition of a British national.[8] In the published opinion, Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC described Haigh as "an honest intelligent witness" and stated that he believed Haigh's account of squalid and insanitary detention conditions, that he believed Haigh had been sexually assaulted and raped during his detention, and that he accepted Haigh's evidence regarding the lack of consular protection.[8] The extradition request was subsequently refused.[8]

Haigh stated that he experienced post-traumatic stress disorder following his detention, during which he reported feeling suicidal.[38][39] He spent two months receiving treatment at the Priory Hospital in 2015.[40]

Advocacy and Latifa campaign

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Since his release, Haigh has described himself as a human rights lawyer and crisis manager, campaigning on detention conditions, torture allegations, Interpol red notices, and extradition in the UAE.[40] He founded Haigh International Justice and co-founded the British non-governmental organization Detained International in 2018.[41]

Haigh acted as a representative of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum in her campaign against her father, the ruler of Dubai, and featured in a February 2020 BBC Panorama documentary about her case.[42][43] In August 2021, Amnesty International's forensic analysis confirmed that Haigh's mobile phone had been infected with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware in August 2020, making him the first British person confirmed to have such forensic evidence on his phone.[44][45] The infection occurred two weeks after Latifa, with whom Haigh had been in covert contact via a smuggled phone, stopped responding to messages.[46]

LGBTQ+ advocacy

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In 2013, Haigh became the first openly gay managing director of an English football club while at Leeds United.[2][47] Under his tenure, Leeds United became the first Stonewall Diversity Champion in English football, partnering with the charity to promote gay equality within the sport.[48]

In November 2017, PinkNews credited Haigh, along with Robbie Rogers and Thomas Hitzlsperger, with helping to pave the way for openly gay players and managers in association football.[49][50] Also in 2017, Haigh co-launched the #ComeOut2Play campaign alongside Diva and OutNewsGlobal publisher Linda Riley and Gay Times to support LGBTQ professional footballers considering coming out.[51][52]

He later served on the management board of the Cornwall County Football Association and chaired its Inclusivity Advisory Group, advising on LGBTQ matters and diversity in Cornish football.[47][40] Haigh was shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards in the Positive Role Model (LGBTQ) category in both 2020 and 2022.[53][54]

References

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  1. ↑ Corless, Liam (21 December 2015). "Former Leeds United chief to spend Christmas in Dubai prison". mirror.
  2. 1 2 Kelleher, Patrick (22 June 2020). "One of the only gay football bosses in history says rampant homophobia means a player won't be coming out anytime soon". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told again to pay up over Dubai fraud". Yorkshire Evening Post. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "I was tortured in Dubai prison, claims former Leeds United chief David Haigh". The Guardian. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Slingo, Jemma (19 August 2020). "Ex-football boss solicitor refused permission to appeal". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Robinson, Andrew (18 August 2020). "Former Leeds United chief David Haigh declared bankrupt and could face jail if he does not disclose what he did with money stolen from club's previous owners, court rules". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "I was jailed in Dubai like Jamie Harron – it's worse than you could possibly imagine". The Independent. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Lord Advocate (for the Government of the United Arab Emirates) v. Garnett Black, Edinburgh Sheriff Court (2017) opinion: 2017 SC EDIN 77 PDF
  9. ↑ admin (11 August 2020). "David Haigh | Detained International". Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "BBC Radio Cornwall – David White, 16/07/2013, 30 Lives: David Haigh". BBC. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  11. ↑ Rogerson, Paul (4 March 2013). "David Haigh". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  12. ↑ Newman, Alex (11 July 2013). "Making Haigh – GFH Capital's general counsel David Haigh on buying Leeds Utd". Law.com International.
  13. ↑ "Person". Solicitors Regulation Authority. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "SDT stays five-year-old case against solicitor 'too ill to take part'". Law Society Gazette. March 2023.
  15. ↑ Al-Shakarchi, Hayder (29 November 2018). "Before Matthew Hedges was David Haigh: An Account of Torture and Detention in Dubai". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "UAE Prisoners of Conscience Silently Screaming". Mynewsdesk. 11 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Are sanctions an effective punishment for human rights abuses?". The Global Herald. 7 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "The Iceman and the Marathon Runner!". Conservatives Abroad. 24 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told to pay GFH £4m after Dubai court ruling". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 3 January 2017.
  20. ↑ "Leeds United: GFH Capital finalise takeover deal". BBC Sport. 21 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Corless, Liam (21 December 2015). "Former Leeds United chief to spend Christmas in Dubai prison". mirror.
  22. ↑ Sport, Telegraph (30 January 2014). "Leeds United takeover deal collapses". The Daily Telegraph.
  23. ↑ "Sport Capital sues GFH for £33m over failed Leeds United takeover bid". yorkshirepost.co.uk. 29 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Former Leeds United managing director arrested in Dubai". Financial Times. 18 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "GFH Capital says arrest of ex-senior exec unrelated to Leeds Utd sale". Arabian Business. 26 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Leeds United's ex-MD held for Dh23.7 million fraud in a Dubai firm". Khaleej Times. 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Slingo, Jemma (7 April 2016). "Solicitor claims he was tortured in Dubai jail". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  28. ↑ David Haigh (23 November 2018). "There's no justice in the UAE – I learned that in a Dubai prison". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  29. ↑ Benson, Richard (7 August 2014). "The Fall (And Fall) Of Leeds United". Esquire. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  30. ↑ "Former Leeds United managing director to spend Christmas in Dubai jail". The Independent. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "British businessman David Haigh acquitted in Dubai over tweet". BBC News. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  32. ↑ "GFH Capital Ltd v David Haigh". DIFC Courts. July 2018.
  33. ↑ "High Court hands down judgment against fraudster former Leeds United managing director". 39 Essex Chambers. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "PE firm take possession of ex-Leeds Utd director's properties in major fraud case". Property Industry Eye. October 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  35. ↑ Conn, David (25 February 2015). "Former Leeds chief seeks private prosecution over 'deceitful' Dubai arrest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  36. ↑ Harley, Nicky (20 May 2020). "Fraudster David Haigh loses English court action to avoid $6m debt recovery". The National. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  37. ↑ Rose, Neil (13 March 2023). "SDT stays five-year-old case against solicitor too ill to take part". The Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Ex-Leeds United MD David Haigh was 'suicidal' in Dubai prison". BBC Sport. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  39. ↑ "Former Leeds Utd chief reveals Dubai jail suicide plan". Arabian Business. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  40. 1 2 3 Ducker, James (3 April 2017). "Exclusive: The former Leeds United director beaten in a Dubai prison now rebuilding his life in Cornwall". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Open Letter from over 60 NGOs and Individuals to the UAE authorities". ICFUAE | International Campaign For Freedom in the UAE. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  42. ↑ "BBC One – Panorama, the Missing Princess". BBC.
  43. ↑ The Princess diaries: shocking secret videos of Dubai's Princess Latifa | 60 Minutes Australia, 28 February 2021, retrieved 19 April 2021
  44. ↑ "Appendix E – Pegasus Forensic Traces per Target Identified in the Aftermath of the Pegasus Project Revelations". Amnesty International. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  45. ↑ "Princess Latifa campaigner had 'phone compromised by Pegasus spyware'". The Guardian. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  46. ↑ "Human rights activist and close ally of detained Dubai princess had phone hacked by NSO spyware, forensic test finds". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  47. 1 2 "BBC Local Radio – The LGBT Sport Podcast, The One with David Haigh". BBC. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  48. ↑ Sampy, Rochelle (2 December 2013). "Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  49. ↑ Andersson, Jasmine (15 November 2017). "How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football?". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  50. ↑ "'I don't see a Premier League player coming out any time soon' – Ex-Leeds director Haigh | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  51. ↑ "#ComeOut2Play campaign supports gay and bisexual professional footballers". GAY TIMES. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  52. ↑ "Katie Price supports Come Out 2 Play Campaign". 8 Days. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  53. ↑ Campbell, Joel (20 September 2021). "2020 National Diversity Awards is Lord Woolley's night". Voice Online. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  54. ↑ Hinds, Rodney (22 July 2020). "64,000 nominations and votes as National Diversity Awards announce 2020 shortlist". Voice Online. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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