Former Malaga CF Owner Sheikh Al-Thani is facing 14 years imprisonment in Spain due to the decline of his Spanish football club

SHEIK Al-Thani faces 14 years of prison for being the former owner Malaga CF Football Club, who led them to an exciting run in the Champions League quarterfinals.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has asked for the lengthy  jail term for Al-Thani, and the same sentence for three of his sons – Nasser, Nayef, and Rakkan – on accusations of disloyal administration, misappropriation of funds, and abusive business agreements during their time at the helm of the football club.

It is the latest development in a long-running legal battle, which began in 2019. It followed a complaint from the Malaga CF Small Shareholders Association (APA), and is now approaching a full trial – although no date has been set.

Prosecutors are also pushing to bar the Qatari family members from managing any commercial companies for those same 14 years and substantial compensation is also being sought  in civil liability.

Prosecutors allege that Al-Thani’s children were more than just figuresheads. They served on the club’s board, and they shared the management duties.

Alongside the Al-Thani family members, five former executives from that era – Moayad Shatat, Vicente Casado, Manuel Novo, Joaquin Jofre, and Roberto Cano – have also been named by the Prosecutor’s Office, which is asking for around five years imprisonment for each of them.

Malaga has been under judicial administration for more than five full years. In February 2020,  Malaga jude María de los Angeles Ruiz removed the Al-Thanis from club oversight, and appointed Jose Maria Muñoz as the judicial administrator to run the club – a position he still holds.

Al-Thani was a member the Qatari Royal family and acquired Malaga in 2010. This sparked optimism among fans. Santi Cazaorla, Ruud Nistelrooy and Isco were some of the first players to be brought in by the new owners.

Malaga’s 2012-2013 Champions League campaign under Manuel Pellegrini, who later became Manchester City’s coach, was a high point.

After a play-off win over Panathinaikos of Greece, they topped the group consisting of Zenit St. Petersburg (AC Milan), Anderlecht and Zenit St. Petersburg.

In the round of 16, they faced FC Porto. After losing the first match 1-0, they won 2-0 at their home ground to qualify for the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, Malaga faced German giants Borussia Dortmund.

After a scoreless first leg, the second leg will be played at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park.

In a match filled with drama and controversy, Malaga twice led, with goals from Joaqiín and Eliseu. Dortmund, however, snatched the victory by scoring two controversial, late goals in the stoppage time. The final goal appeared to be onside. Malaga had hoped to reach the semi-finals.

This glorious chapter faded away quickly. The financial problems and lack of a clear strategy became apparent.

Al-Thani’s investment has declined and the team performance has suffered. Malaga was barred from European competitions because of outstanding payments.

The club had to sell players and was relegated at the end the 2017-2018 season. These allegations of financial mismanagement are directly related to the current legal proceedings.

Al-Thani, who is a football fanatic, also pursued business ventures, particularly in Marbella. He focused on luxury real estate and infrastructure.

His most prominent project was the proposed €400 million expansion of Marbella’s La Bajadilla fishing port, envisioned as a luxury marina for cruise ships and superyachts.

Plans included a 900-metre circular pier for over 1,200 yachts, a 200-metre quay for cruise liners, and a 45,000 m² commercial and leisure area.

This project was touted as the ‘most important urban development in Marbella’s history’, promising thousands of jobs.

The Marbella City Council supported the Puerto La Bajadilla Project at first. Mayor Angeles Muñoz endorsed it, and Al-Thani’s consortium, Nasir Bin Abdullah & Sons, included a joint venture with the Marbella Leisure Port and the Town Hall.

The project was approved early, despite the objections of other companies and environmental organizations. The project was not without its difficulties.

It was beset by delays and allegations of non-compliance to contractual obligations. Work that was expected to begin in 2012 did not materialise as the promised funding never arrived.

Companies that contested the concession bid claimed Al-Thani’s consortium did not meet the required conditions.

There were also financial problems, including a ban on the payment of unpaid architect bills as well as a reduction in Al-Thani’s capital investment.

In 2016, after four years of delays, the Public Ports Agency of Andalusia (APPA) officially stripped Al-Thani of the contract due to ‘continual breaches’.

This decision was confirmed by the Spanish Supreme Court in 2018. The ruling stated that the company’s technical and financial solvency did not meet requirements.

Al-Thani’s business legacy in Marbella was defined by the failure of La Bajadilla Port, which mirrored his ownership of Malaga CF.

The initial relationship was cooperative but deteriorated when the project stagnated, leading to the separation of the legal entity.