David Haigh

For similarly-named people, see David Haig (disambiguation).

David Lawrence Haigh
Born	Manchester, United Kingdom
Education	Southampton University LLB Hons Law
Occupation(s)	Lawyer and crisis manager
Years active	1995–present
Website	www.davidhaigh.co.uk

David Lawrence Haigh is a British human rights lawyer and international crisis and media manager.^[1]

Haigh is the former managing director of Leeds United Football Club and Chairman of Leeds United Ladies Football Club and was the first openly LGBTQ managing director of an English football club.^[2] He is the chief executive officer and founder of the Sport Capital Group, a financier of Leeds United Football Club. Haigh was convicted of fraud charges in Dubai and spent 22 months in prison, where he claims that he was tortured and raped.^[3] He denies all allegations and claims he was set up.^[4] He is a campaigner for human rights and justice in the UAE, specifically on unfair trials, torture, Interpol, and extraditions.^[5]

Haigh is the founder and managing director of Haigh International Justice, a dispute resolution, crisis, and media management strategic advisor.^[6] He co-founded Legal Advocacy NGO Detained International in 2018.^[7] Haigh is an active campaigner for anti-homophobia in sport.^[8]

Education

Haigh attended Cape Cornwall School, England.^[9] He then studied at the University of Southampton, where he graduated with a degree in law^[10] and attended law school at the College of Law in London.^[11]

Career

Haigh is an international human rights lawyer, a solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales (non-practicing).^[12] He has practiced law in the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and Dubai. He joined West Mayfair law firm Palmer Cowen (later Fairmays LLP) in 2001 and has worked at several international law firms including DLA Piper and US law firm Akin Gump.^{[citation needed]}

Haigh was the co-founder, along with Radha Stirling, and managing partner of Stirling Haigh, an international dispute resolution, crisis management, and strategic advisory firm.^[13]

He co-founded Detained International, a London-based legal advocacy NGO that provides pro bono legal advocacy to victims of injustice, inequality, and other human rights violations in the UAE and the Middle East.^[14][15]

Haigh was chairman of Conservatives Abroad UAE^[16] and vice chairman of Gulf Tories and as its vice-chairman.^[10]

Football

Haigh led GFH Capital's negotiations with the then-owner of Leeds United, Ken Bates, for the acquisition of the club.^[17] The agreement was formally announced at a press conference at Elland Road in November 2012.^[18] Haigh joined the Leeds United board in February 2013.^[19] On 1 July 2013, Haigh was made managing director of the club following the departure of now Football League CEO Shaun Harvey.^[19][20] On 11 April 2014, Haigh resigned as managing director following the purchase of the club by Massimo Cellino.^[19]

In November 2013 Haigh and Andre Flowers, managing director of Enterprise Insurance, formed a consortium called Sport Capital to purchase the majority of the shares in the club from GFH Capital.^[21] Haigh is said to have fallen out with GFH Capital after they sold the club to Italian businessman Massimo Cellino and not Sport Capital. Sport Capital then launched a £33.5 million claim against GFH Capital.^[22] Following the failure of the acquisition Sport Capital remained a financier of Leeds United.^[23]

After the Cornish non-league side Penzance AFC reached out to Haigh on social media looking for help, he joined the board as a committee member with the team sitting bottom of the South West Peninsula League Division One West, the 11th tier of English football.^[24]

LGBTQ+ Advocacy

In 2013 Haigh became the first openly gay managing director of an English football club, Leeds United.^[25][26][27] In November 2017, Pink News credited Haigh along with Robbie Rogers and Thomas Hitzlsperger with paving the way for LGBTQ players and managers in football.^[28][29] In December 2013, Leeds United, became the first Stonewall Diversity Champion in English football, championing gay equality within the club and Football and former Leeds and LA Galaxy player Robbie Rogers, became one of the first male professional football players to come out as gay, launching his Beyond It anti-discrimination charity with Haigh at Leeds United.^[30][31]

In 2017, Haigh, Diva and OutNewsGlobal publisher Linda Riley and Gay Times co-launched #ComeOut2Play^[32] to support LGBTQ footballers to come out.^{[33][26][25][29]} Come out to play reached 40 million people in 6 weeks.^[34][35]

In 2017, Haigh was appointed to the Cornwall County Football Association Inclusivity Advisory Group in 2017 to advise on LGBTQ matters and diversity in Cornish football. In 2019 he joined the management board of the Cornwall County Football Association and became the Chairman of its Inclusivity Advisory group.^[36][29][37]

In 2020, Haigh was shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards – Positive Role Model for LGBTQ. He was nominated again in 2022 for the National Diversity Award – Positive Role Model LGBTQ and Positive Role Model Disability alongside Detained International.^[38][39][40]

Arrest, torture, and litigation in Dubai

In May 2014 Haigh was arrested in Dubai.^[41] Haigh claims that he was lured to Dubai^[42] by GFH to discuss a new job.^[43] His arrest related to allegations of fraud and embezzlement from his time at GFH Capital.^[44] Haigh was convicted of breach of trust charges in Dubai and spent 22-months in prison, where he claims he was tortured and raped.^[3] He denies all allegations and claims he was set up.^[4] According to Dubai Police he is alleged to have embezzled AED23.7 million (about US$6.7 million) from his former employers. The irregularities were allegedly discovered during a routine internal audit.^[45]

In August 2015, Haigh was convicted of "breach of trust" and received a two-year jail sentence.^[46][47]

Haigh was due to return to the UK following his earlier case when on the day of Haigh's release, Gulf Finance House filed a criminal complaint that Haigh had abused them on Twitter while in jail.^[48] Haigh was acquitted of this charge in March 2016, and returned to the UK a few days later on Good Friday where he gave a series of television and press interviews setting out the treatment, torture abuse and unfair trials he suffered.^[49]

Torture in Dubai

In July 2018, a Dubai judge Justice Jeremy Cooke in the Dubai International Finance Centre Courts in a hearing where Haigh was not present or represented held that Haigh had fraudulently directed funds.^[47] Haigh was ordered to pay nearly £3.8 million plus costs, and his counterclaims were dismissed.^[47] GFH said it would start enforcement proceedings against Haigh in Dubai and London.^[46]

Private prosecution

While in Dubai Haigh hired English barrister Alun Jones QC and Thom Dyke and Keystone law Alison Bradley and Mark Spragg to file a private prosecution against GFH and their former lawyer Peter Gray of Gibson Dunn for human trafficking and fraud.^[50] Haigh withdrew the application when he lost access to lawyers. After his release from prison Haigh took the case to judicial review at the High Court in England, and the court ruled against him in May 2020.^[51]

Mental health

Following release from jail in the UAE, Haigh has had a battle with PTSD. Haigh was reported to have felt "suicidal" whilst detained in 2015 following being tortured and raped.^[52] While imprisoned he spoke about these feelings with prisoner charity Prisoners Abroad.^[53]

Haigh spent two months in the Priory Hospital in 2015.^[54]

Pegasus hacking

In August 2021, Amnesty International confirmed that Haigh was the first British person to have evidence on his mobile phone that it had been hacked by NSO spyware in August 2020.^[55] At the time, Haigh was representing hostage Dubai Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum.^[56] Haigh had been exchanging videos and text messages in secret for more than a year and a half with Latifa through a phone that had been smuggled into the Dubai villa where she was being held. She stopped responding on 21 July 2020, according to a screenshot of the messages Haigh shared. The analysis shows that Haigh's phone was hacked two weeks later.^[57]

Charity

Haigh was also an ambassador for Make-A-Wish Foundation and established a foundation to help victims of suicide in Brazil following the suicide of his former partner in Brazil.^{[58][better source needed]}

During Haigh's leadership Leeds United became the very first Stonewall Diversity Champion in English football, championing gay equality within the club and Football.^[59] In November 2017, Pink News credited Haigh along with Rogers and Hitzlsperger with paving the way for LGBT players and managers in football.^[60]

Haigh featured in the February 2020 Panorama documentary.^[61] He is identified by Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum as her representative in her fight for freedom. Haigh was interviewed^[62] on 60 minutes Australia and says he has been fighting for the princess's life and freedom for several years. He founded Detained International in 2018, a British NGO.^[63]

References

1. "Calls for swift action against the UAE after PhD student jailed for life". shropshirestar.com. 22 November 2018.
2. "I was tortured in Dubai prison, claims former Leeds United chief David Haigh". The Guardian. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
3. "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.
4. "Ex-Leeds United managing director 'beaten' in Dubai jail". BBC News. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
5. "Princess Latifa campaigner had 'phone compromised by Pegasus spyware'". The Guardian. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
6. "Experienced Legal Consultants in Dubai – Haigh International Justice". 18 January 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
7. admin (11 August 2020). "David Haigh | Detained International". Retrieved 30 June 2022.
8. "One of the only gay football bosses in history says rampant homophobia means a player won't be coming out anytime soon". PinkNews. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
9. "BBC Radio Cornwall – David White, 16/07/2013, 30 Lives: David Haigh". BBC. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
10. Rogerson, Paul (4 March 2013). "David Haigh". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
11. Newman, Alex (11 July 2013). "Making Haigh – GFH Capital's general counsel David Haigh on buying Leeds Utd". Law.com International.
12. "Person". sra.org.uk. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
13. 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.
14. "UAE Prisoners of Conscience Silently Screaming". Mynewsdesk. 11 July 2020.
15. "Are sanctions an effective punishment for human rights abuses? | Inside Story – The Global Herald". 7 July 2020.
16. "The Iceman and the Marathon Runner!". Conservatives Abroad. 24 November 2012.
17. "Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told to pay GFH £4m after Dubai court ruling". yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
18. "Leeds United: GFH Capital finalise takeover deal". 21 November 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
19. Corless, Liam (21 December 2015). "Former Leeds United chief to spend Christmas in Dubai prison". mirror. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
20. "A good day for Leeds United". Marching on Together. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
21. Sport, Telegraph (30 January 2014). "Leeds United takeover deal collapses". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
22. "Sport Capital sues GFH for £33m over failed Leeds United takeover bid". yorkshirepost.co.uk. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
23. "Leeds United takeover bid falls through". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
24. "BBC – Sign in". BBC. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
25. 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.
26. "BBC Local Radio – The LGBT Sport Podcast, The One with David Haigh". BBC. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
27. Jackman, Josh (26 October 2017). "20 players have told me they're gay, says top football boss". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
28. Andersson, Jasmine (15 November 2017). "How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football?". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
29. "'I don't see a Premier League player coming out any time soon' – Ex-Leeds director Haigh | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
30. Sampy, Rochelle (2 December 2013). "Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
31. "ROBBIE PARTNERS WITH CLUB FOR BEYOND IT". Leeds United A.F.C. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
32. "#ComeOut2Play campaign supports gay and bisexual professional footballers". GAY TIMES. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
33. "Katie Price supports Come Out 2 Play Campaign". 8 Days. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
34. "#ComeOut2Play campaign reaches 40 million people in support of gay and bi pro footballers". GAY TIMES. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
35. "Millions reached by #ComeOut2Play campaign in support of gay footballers –". 5 December 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
36. "The LGBT Sport Podcast: The One with David Haigh on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
37. 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 October 2022.
38. Campbell, Joel (20 September 2021). "2020 National Diversity Awards is Lord Woolley's night". Voice Online. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
39. Hinds, Rodney (22 July 2020). "64,000 nominations and votes as National Diversity Awards announce 2020 shortlist". Voice Online. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
40. "David Haigh". nationaldiversityawards.co.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
41. "Former Leeds United managing director arrested in Dubai". Financial Times.
42. 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.
43. Benson, Richard (7 August 2014). "The Fall (And Fall) Of Leeds United". Esquire. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
44. "GFH Capital says arrest of ex-senior exec unrelated to Leeds Utd sale". Arabian Business. 26 May 2014.
45. "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.
46. Townsend, Sarah (8 July 2018). "GFH to pursue David Haigh's Dubai and London assets in damages enforcement". The National. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
47. Blow, John (6 July 2018). "Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told again to pay up over Dubai fraud". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
48. "Former Leeds United managing director to spend Christmas in Dubai jail". The Independent. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
49. "British businessman David Haigh acquitted in Dubai over tweet". BBC News. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
50. Conn, David (25 February 2015). "Former Leeds chief seeks private prosecution over 'deceitful' Dubai arrest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
51. Harley, Nicky (20 May 2020). "Fraudster David Haigh loses English court action to avoid $6m debt recovery". The National. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
52. "Ex-Leeds United MD David Haigh was 'suicidal' in Dubai prison". BBC Sport. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
53. "Former Leeds Utd chief reveals Dubai jail suicide plan". Arabian Business. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
54. 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.
55. "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.
56. "Princess Latifa campaigner had 'phone compromised by Pegasus spyware'". The Guardian. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
57. "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.
58. "HAIGH ACCEPTS CHAIRMAN ROLE". Leeds United A.F.C. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
59. "Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme". PinkNews. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
60. "How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football?". PinkNews. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
61. "BBC One – Panorama, the Missing Princess".
62. The Princess diaries: shocking secret videos of Dubai's Princess Latifa | 60 Minutes Australia, retrieved 19 April 2021
63. "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.

External links

• Official website