David Haigh

Haigh attended Cape Cornwall School, England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01csbdg|title=BBC Radio Cornwall – David White, 16/07/2013, 30 Lives: David Haigh|date=15 July 2013 |publisher=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-18}} He then studied at the University of Southampton, where he graduated with a degree in law{{cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/people/david-haigh/69698.article|title=David Haigh|last=Rogerson|first=Paul |date=4 March 2013|website=Law Society Gazette|access-date=2019-01-18}} and attended law school at the College of Law in London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.com/international-edition/2013/07/11/making-haigh-gfh-capitals-general-counsel-david-haigh-on-buying-leeds-utd/|title=Making Haigh – GFH Capital's general counsel David Haigh on buying Leeds Utd|first=Alex|last=Newman|date=11 July 2013|website=Law.com International}}

Haigh is an international human rights lawyer, a solicitor of the Senior Court of England and Wales (non-practicing).{{Cite web |date=2019-10-07 |title=Person |url=https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/person/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=sra.org.uk |language=en}} 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|date=October 2022}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Al-Shakarchi |first1=Hayder |title=Before Matthew Hedges was David Haigh: An Account of Torture and Detention in Dubai |url=https://www.albawaba.com/news/matthew-hedges-was-david-haigh-account-torture-and-detention-dubai-1219844 |access-date=20 July 2021 |work=Al Bawaba |date=29 November 2018}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/detained-freelatifa/videos/uae-prisoners-of-conscience-silently-screaming-108342|title=UAE Prisoners of Conscience Silently Screaming|website=Mynewsdesk|date=11 July 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://theglobalherald.com/news/are-sanctions-an-effective-punishment-for-human-rights-abuses-inside-story/|title=Are sanctions an effective punishment for human rights abuses? | Inside Story – The Global Herald|date=7 July 2020 }}

Haigh was chairman of Conservatives Abroad UAE{{Cite web|url=https://www.conservativesabroad.org/news/iceman-and-marathon-runner|title=The Iceman and the Marathon Runner!|website=Conservatives Abroad|date=24 November 2012 }} and vice chairman of Gulf Tories and as its vice-chairman.

Haigh led GFH Capital's negotiations with the then-owner of Leeds United, Ken Bates, for the acquisition of the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/ex-leeds-united-boss-david-haigh-told-to-pay-gfh-4m-after-dubai-court-ruling-1-8315582|title=Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told to pay GFH £4m after Dubai court ruling|website=yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk|date=3 January 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-18}} The agreement was formally announced at a press conference at Elland Road in November 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20240262|title=Leeds United: GFH Capital finalise takeover deal|date=2012-11-21|access-date=2019-01-18|language=en-GB}} Haigh joined the Leeds United board in February 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/former-leeds-executive-david-haigh-7051584|title=Former Leeds United chief to spend Christmas in Dubai prison|last=Corless|first=Liam|date=2015-12-21|website=mirror|access-date=2019-01-18}} On 1 July 2013, Haigh was made managing director of the club following the departure of now Football League CEO Shaun Harvey.{{cite web|url=http://www.motforum.com/article.php?page=28998|title=A good day for Leeds United|date=1 July 2013|publisher=Marching on Together|access-date=28 August 2013}} On 11 April 2014, Haigh resigned as managing director following the purchase of the club by Massimo Cellino.

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leeds-united/10607821/Leeds-United-takeover-deal-collapses.html|title=Leeds United takeover deal collapses|last=Sport|first=Telegraph|journal=The Daily Telegraph|date=2014-01-30|access-date=2019-01-18|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/sport-capital-sues-gfh-for-33m-over-failed-leeds-united-takeover-bid-1-7079181|title=Sport Capital sues GFH for £33m over failed Leeds United takeover bid|website=yorkshirepost.co.uk|date=29 January 2015 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-15}} Following the failure of the acquisition Sport Capital remained a financier of Leeds United.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10976908.Leeds_United_takeover_bid_falls_through/?ref=arc|title=Leeds United takeover bid falls through|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=30 January 2014 |language=en|access-date=2017-11-15}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://account.bbc.com/signin?redirectUri=https://session.bbc.com/session/callback&service=IdSignInService&nonce=YAT8DeTh-iSgp3VtDhbpeZ1t27TOZfz4hzHY&context=sport&ptrt=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38973435&userOrigin=SPORT_GNL&realm=&isCasso=false&action=sign-in|title=BBC – Sign in|publisher=BBC|access-date=2019-12-25}}

In 2013 Haigh became the first openly gay managing director of an English football club, Leeds United.{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Patrick |date=2020-06-22 |title=One of the only gay football bosses in history says rampant homophobia means a player won't be coming out anytime soon |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/06/22/david-haigh-football-leeds-united-gay-lgbt-coming-out-premier-league-rainbow-laces/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=PinkNews }}{{Cite web |title=BBC Local Radio – The LGBT Sport Podcast, The One with David Haigh |date=3 April 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075djdm |access-date=2022-10-27 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Jackman |first=Josh |date=2017-10-26 |title=20 players have told me they're gay, says top football boss |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/26/20-footballers-have-told-me-theyre-gay-says-top-football-boss/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=PinkNews }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Andersson |first=Jasmine |date=2017-11-15 |title=How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football? |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/11/15/how-are-we-going-to-effectively-tackle-homophobia-in-football/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=PinkNews }}{{Cite web |title='I don't see a Premier League player coming out any time soon' – Ex-Leeds director Haigh {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/no-gay-premier-league-player-any-time-soon/gw52waa4c8k6196xvjcyhob7p |access-date=2022-10-27 |publisher=Goal}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Sampy |first=Rochelle |date=2013-12-02 |title=Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/02/leeds-united-promotes-gay-equality-through-stonewalls-diversity-programme/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=PinkNews }}{{Cite web |date=2013-12-19 |title=ROBBIE PARTNERS WITH CLUB FOR BEYOND IT |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/3130/robbie-partners-with-club-for-beyond-it |access-date=2022-10-27 |publisher=Leeds United A.F.C. |language=en}}

In 2017, Haigh, Diva and OutNewsGlobal publisher Linda Riley and Gay Times co-launched #ComeOut2Play{{Cite web |date=2017-11-29 |title=#ComeOut2Play campaign supports gay and bisexual professional footballers |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/comeout2play-campaign-supports-gay-bisexual-professional-footballers/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}} to support LGBTQ footballers to come out.{{Cite web |title=Katie Price supports Come Out 2 Play Campaign |url=https://www.8days.sg/hollywood-buzz/katie-price-supports-come-out-2-play-campaign-407941 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=8 Days |language=en}} Come out to play reached 40 million people in 6 weeks.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=#ComeOut2Play campaign reaches 40 million people in support of gay and bi pro footballers |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/come-out-2-play-campaign-reaches-40-million-people/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=GAY TIMES |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2017-12-05 |title=Millions reached by #ComeOut2Play campaign in support of gay footballers – |url=https://outnewsglobal.com/millions-supporting-gay-footballers-comeout2play-campaign/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |language=en-GB}}

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.{{Cite web |title=The LGBT Sport Podcast: The One with David Haigh on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-one-with-david-haigh/id1437262248?i=1000434046050 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Ducker |first=James |date=2017-04-03 |title=Exclusive: The former Leeds United director beaten in a Dubai prison now rebuilding his life in Cornwall |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/04/03/interview-former-leeds-united-director-beaten-dubai-prison-now/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |issn=0307-1235}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Joel |date=2021-09-20 |title=2020 National Diversity Awards is Lord Woolley's night |url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment/2021/09/20/2020-national-diversity-awards-is-lord-woolleys-night/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Voice Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hinds |first=Rodney |date=2020-07-22 |title=64,000 nominations and votes as National Diversity Awards announce 2020 shortlist |url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2020/07/22/64000-nominations-and-votes-as-national-diversity-awards-announce-2020-shortlist/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Voice Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=David Haigh |url=https://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/awards-2022/nominations/david-haigh/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=nationaldiversityawards.co.uk |language=en}}

In May 2014 Haigh was arrested in Dubai.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/9de513a8-e0f0-11e3-a934-00144feabdc0|title=Former Leeds United managing director arrested in Dubai|work=Financial Times}} Haigh claims that he was lured to Dubai{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/23/justice-uae-dubai-british-academic-matthew-hedges |title=There's no justice in the UAE – I learned that in a Dubai prison |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 November 2018|author=David Haigh |access-date= 23 November 2018}} by GFH to discuss a new job.{{cite web |last1=Benson |first1=Richard |title=The Fall (And Fall) Of Leeds United |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/news/a6825/the-fall-and-fall-of-leeds-united/ |website=Esquire |access-date=21 April 2021 |date=7 August 2014}} His arrest related to allegations of fraud and embezzlement from his time at GFH Capital.{{cite news | url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/gfh-capital-says-arrest-of-ex-senior-exec-unrelated-leeds-utd-sale-551660.html | title=GFH Capital says arrest of ex-senior exec unrelated to Leeds Utd sale | work=Arabian Business | date=26 May 2014}} Haigh was convicted of breach of trust charges in Dubai and spent 22-months in prison, where he claims he was tortured and raped. He denies all allegations and claims he was set up. 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?section=courtroundup&xfile=data%2Fcourtroundup%2F2014%2Fmay%2Fcourtroundup_may60.xml | title=Leeds United's ex-MD held for Dh23.7 million fraud in a Dubai firm | work=Khaleej Times | date=23 May 2014 | access-date=26 May 2014 | archive-date=28 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528010042/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?section=courtroundup&xfile=data%2Fcourtroundup%2F2014%2Fmay%2Fcourtroundup_may60.xml | url-status=dead }}

In August 2015, Haigh was convicted of "breach of trust" and received a two-year jail sentence.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/gfh-to-pursue-david-haigh-s-dubai-and-london-assets-in-damages-enforcement-1.748149|title=GFH to pursue David Haigh's Dubai and London assets in damages enforcement|work=The National|date=8 July 2018|access-date=11 July 2018|first=Sarah|last=Townsend}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/ex-leeds-united-boss-david-haigh-told-again-to-pay-up-over-dubai-fraud-1-9239798|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|title=Ex-Leeds United boss David Haigh told again to pay up over Dubai fraud|date=6 July 2018|access-date=11 July 2018|first=John|last=Blow}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/david-haigh-former-leeds-united-managing-director-to-spend-christmas-in-dubai-jail-after-offensive-a6781976.html|title=Former Leeds United managing director to spend Christmas in Dubai jail|date=2015-12-21|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-11-15|language=en-GB}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35860600|title=British businessman David Haigh acquitted in Dubai over tweet|date=2016-03-21|publisher=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-08}}

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. Haigh was ordered to pay nearly £3.8 million plus costs, and his counterclaims were dismissed. GFH said it would start enforcement proceedings against Haigh in Dubai and London.

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/leeds-united-david-haigh-private-prosecution-gfh-dubai|title=Former Leeds chief seeks private prosecution over 'deceitful' Dubai arrest|last=Conn|first=David|date=2015-02-25|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-08}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Harley |first1=Nicky |title=Fraudster David Haigh loses English court action to avoid $6m debt recovery |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/fraudster-david-haigh-loses-english-court-action-to-avoid-6m-debt-recovery-1.1022286 |access-date=20 July 2021 |work=The National |date=20 May 2020}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31888718|title=Ex-Leeds United MD David Haigh was 'suicidal' in Dubai prison|date=2015-03-14|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en-GB}} While imprisoned he spoke about these feelings with prisoner charity Prisoners Abroad.{{cite news |title=Former Leeds Utd chief reveals Dubai jail suicide plan |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/former-leeds-utd-chief-reveals-dubai-jail-suicide-plan-585532.html |access-date=20 July 2021 |work=Arabian Business |date=14 March 2015}}

Haigh spent two months in the Priory Hospital in 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/04/03/interview-former-leeds-united-director-beaten-dubai-prison-now/|title=Exclusive: The former Leeds United director beaten in a Dubai prison now rebuilding his life in Cornwall|last=Ducker|first=James|date=2017-04-03|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-06 |title=Appendix E – Pegasus Forensic Traces per Target Identified in the Aftermath of the Pegasus Project Revelations |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2021/08/appendix-e-pegasus-forensic-traces-per-target-identified-in-the-aftermath-of-the-revelations-of-pegasus-project/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |publisher=Amnesty International |language=en}} At the time, Haigh was representing hostage Dubai Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-02 |title=Princess Latifa campaigner had 'phone compromised by Pegasus spyware' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/02/princess-latifa-campaigner-david-haigh-phone-compromised-pegasus-spyware |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Human rights activist and close ally of detained Dubai princess had phone hacked by NSO spyware, forensic test finds |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/02/activist-dubai-princess-pegasus-surveillance/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |issn=0190-8286}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/3230/haigh-accepts-chairman-role|title=HAIGH ACCEPTS CHAIRMAN ROLE|publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.|date=26 November 2013|access-date=2017-01-08}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=November 2023}}

During Haigh's leadership Leeds United became the very first Stonewall Diversity Champion in English football, championing gay equality within the club and Football.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-02 |title=Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/02/leeds-united-promotes-gay-equality-through-stonewalls-diversity-programme/ |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=PinkNews }} In November 2017, Pink News credited Haigh along with Rogers and Hitzlsperger with paving the way for LGBT players and managers in football.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/11/15/how-are-we-going-to-effectively-tackle-homophobia-in-football/|title=How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football?|work=PinkNews|access-date=2017-11-17|language=en-US}}

Haigh featured in the February 2020 Panorama documentary.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000sspm|title = BBC One – Panorama, the Missing Princess}} He is identified by Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum as her representative in her fight for freedom. Haigh was interviewed{{Citation|title=The Princess diaries: shocking secret videos of Dubai's Princess Latifa {{!}} 60 Minutes Australia|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVkCtJGVnpM|language=en|access-date=2021-04-19}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=Open Letter from over 60 NGOs and Individuals to the UAE authorities |url=http://icfuae.org.uk/news-press-releases/open-letter-over-60-ngos-and-individuals-uae-authorities |access-date=2021-04-19 |website=ICFUAE {{!}} International Campaign For Freedom in the UAE |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

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• {{official website|http://www.davidhaigh.co.uk}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haigh, David}}

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Law

Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton

Category:Directors of football clubs in England

Category:British LGBTQ lawyers

Category:English gay sportsmen

Category:Human rights lawyers

Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United Arab Emirates

Category:Sportspeople from Cornwall

Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)