David Haigh: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| name = David Haigh |
| name = David Lawrence Haigh |
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| image = David Haigh talks with the media.jpg |
| image = David Haigh talks with the media.jpg |
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| caption = |
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| birth_name = |
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| birth_place = Manchester, United Kingdom |
| birth_place = Manchester, United Kingdom |
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| education = Southampton University LLB Hons Law |
| education = Southampton University LLB Hons Law |
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| occupation = Lawyer and crisis manager |
| occupation = Lawyer and crisis manager |
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| years_active = 1995–present |
| years_active = 1995–present |
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| parents = |
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| website = {{URL|http://www.davidhaigh.co.uk}} |
| website = {{URL|http://www.davidhaigh.co.uk}} |
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'''David Lawrence Haigh''' is a British human rights lawyer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2018/11/22/calls-for-swift-action-against-the-uae-after-phd-student-jailed-for-life/ |
'''David Lawrence Haigh''' is a British [[human rights]] lawyer and international crisis and media manager.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calls for swift action against the UAE after PhD student jailed for life |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2018/11/22/calls-for-swift-action-against-the-uae-after-phd-student-jailed-for-life/ |website=shropshirestar.com|date=22 November 2018 }}</ref> |
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Haigh is the former managing director of Leeds United Football Club and Chairman of Leeds United Ladies Football Club |
Haigh is the former managing director of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United Football Club]] and Chairman of Leeds United Ladies Football Club and was the first openly [[LGBT|LGBTQ]] managing director of an English football club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-07 |title=I was tortured in Dubai prison, claims former Leeds United chief David Haigh |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/07/david-haigh-claims-tortured-dubai-prison-leeds-united |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{Cite web |date=2017-10-25 |title=I was jailed in Dubai like Jamie Harron – it's worse than you could possibly imagine |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dubai-jamie-harron-jailed-worse-holiday-laws-police-treatment-travel-uae-united-arab-emirates-a8016801.html |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> He denies all allegations and claims he was set up.<ref name="BBC News">{{Cite news |date=2016-04-07 |title=Ex-Leeds United managing director 'beaten' in Dubai jail |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35968434 |access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref> He is a campaigner for human rights and justice in the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], specifically on unfair trials, torture, [[Interpol]], and extraditions.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{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=2022-06-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> |
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Haigh is the founder and managing director of Haigh International Justice, a dispute resolution, crisis and media management strategic advisor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-18 |title=Experienced Legal Consultants in Dubai |
Haigh is the founder and managing director of Haigh International Justice, a dispute resolution, crisis, and [[media management]] strategic advisor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-18 |title=Experienced Legal Consultants in Dubai – Haigh International Justice |url=https://haighjustice.com/our-firm-2/team/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He co-founded Legal Advocacy NGO Detained International in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2020-08-11 |title=David Haigh {{!}} Detained International |url=https://detained.org.uk/david-haigh/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Haigh is an active campaigner for anti-[[homophobia]] in sport.<ref>{{Cite web |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=2022-06-30 |website=PinkNews }}</ref> |
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He is a campaigner for human rights and justice in the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], specifically on unfair trials, torture, Interpol and extraditions.<ref>{{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=2022-06-30 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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Haigh attended Cape Cornwall School, England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01csbdg|title=BBC Radio Cornwall |
Haigh attended [[Cape Cornwall School]], England.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He then studied at the [[University of Southampton]], where he graduated with a degree in law<ref name=":10">{{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}}</ref> and attended law school at the College of Law in London.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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Haigh is an |
Haigh is an international [[human rights lawyer]], a [[solicitor]] of the Senior Court of England and Wales (non-practicing).<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 Strauss Hauer & Feld|Akin Gump]].{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> |
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===Leeds United FC=== |
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| ⚫ | Haigh was chairman of [[Conservatives Abroad]] UAE<ref>{{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 }}</ref> and vice chairman of Gulf Tories and as its vice-chairman.<ref name=":10"/> |
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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.<ref>{{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= |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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=Daily Telegraph|date=2014-01-30|access-date=2019-01-18|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> 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 |
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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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The agreement was formally announced at a press conference at [[Elland Road]] in November 2012.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Haigh joined the Leeds United board in February 2013.<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref> On 1 July 2013, Haigh was made managing director of the club following the departure of now [[English Football League|Football League]] CEO Shaun Harvey.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{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}}</ref> On 11 April 2014, Haigh resigned as managing director following the purchase of the club by [[Massimo Cellino]].<ref name=":1" /> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Following the failure of the acquisition Sport Capital remained a financier of Leeds United.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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=== Leeds United Ladies === |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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In 2013 David Haigh became the first openly Chairman of an English football club, when he was appointed Chairman of Leeds United Ladies FC. Haigh continued his association with Leeds United Ladies FC following his 2014 resignation from Leeds United as a sponsor. |
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=== LGBTQ+ Advocacy === |
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| ⚫ | In 2013 Haigh became the first openly gay managing director of an English football club, [[Leeds United]].<ref name="Kelleher">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> In November 2017, [[Pink News]] credited Haigh along with [[Robbie Rogers]] and [[Thomas Hitzlsperger]] with paving the way for LGBTQ players and managers in [[association football|football]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref name="goal.com">{{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}}</ref> In December 2013, Leeds United, became the first [[Stonewall (charity)|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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 2017, Haigh, Diva and OutNewsGlobal publisher [[Linda Riley]] and [[Gay Times]] co-launched #ComeOut2Play<ref>{{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}}</ref> to support [[LGTBQ|LGBTQ]] footballers to come out.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref name="Kelleher"/><ref name="goal.com"/> Come out to play reached 40 million people in 6 weeks.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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| |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="goal.com"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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==Law== |
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Haigh is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (non Practising).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-07 |title=Person |url=https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/person/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.sra.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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 |
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==Politics== |
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| ⚫ | Haigh was |
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== LQTBQ+ Advocacy == |
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| ⚫ | In 2013 Haigh became the first openly gay managing director of an English football club, [[Leeds United]].<ref>{{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 |
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| ⚫ | In 2017, Haigh, Diva and OutNewsGlobal publisher [[Linda Riley]] and [[Gay Times]] co-launched #ComeOut2Play<ref>{{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}}</ref> to support [[LGTBQ]] footballers to come out. |
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| ⚫ | In 2017, Haigh was appointed to the [[Cornwall County Football Association]] Inclusivity Advisory Group in 2017 to advise on |
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| ⚫ | In 2020, Haigh was shortlisted for the [[National Diversity Awards]] – Positive Role Model for |
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==Arrest, torture, and litigation in Dubai== |
==Arrest, torture, and litigation in Dubai== |
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In May 2014 Haigh was arrested in Dubai.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Haigh claims that he was lured to Dubai<ref>{{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}}</ref> by GFH to discuss a new job.<ref>{{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}}</ref> His arrest related to allegations of fraud and embezzlement from his time at GFH Capital.<ref>{{cite |
In May 2014 Haigh was arrested in Dubai.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> Haigh claims that he was lured to Dubai<ref>{{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}}</ref> by GFH to discuss a new job.<ref>{{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}}</ref> His arrest related to allegations of fraud and embezzlement from his time at GFH Capital.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Haigh was convicted of breach of trust charges in Dubai and spent 22-months in prison, where he claims he was tortured and raped.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/> He denies all allegations and claims he was set up.<ref name="BBC News"/> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> |
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In August 2015, Haigh was convicted of "breach of trust" and received a two-year jail sentence.<ref name=enforcement>{{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}}</ref><ref name=YEP>{{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}}</ref> |
In August 2015, Haigh was convicted of "breach of trust" and received a two-year jail sentence.<ref name=enforcement>{{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}}</ref><ref name=YEP>{{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}}</ref> |
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Haigh was due to return to the UK following his earlier case when on the day of Haigh's release, [[GFH Financial Group|Gulf Finance House]] filed a criminal complaint that Haigh had abused them on Twitter while in jail.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35860600|title=British businessman David Haigh acquitted in Dubai over tweet|date=2016-03-21| |
Haigh was due to return to the UK following his earlier case when on the day of Haigh's release, [[GFH Financial Group|Gulf Finance House]] filed a criminal complaint that Haigh had abused them on Twitter while in jail.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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=== Torture in Dubai === |
=== Torture in Dubai === |
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| ⚫ | In July 2018, a Dubai judge Justice [[Jeremy Cooke]] in the [[DIFC Courts|Dubai International Finance Centre Courts]] in a hearing where Haigh was not present or represented held that Haigh had fraudulently directed funds.<ref name="YEP" /> Haigh was ordered to pay nearly £3.8 million plus costs, and his counterclaims were dismissed.<ref name="YEP" /> GFH said it would start enforcement proceedings against Haigh in Dubai and London.<ref name="enforcement" /> |
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In 2017 a UK court in Scotland held that Haigh had been tortured and raped by the police in [[Dubai]], Haigh gave evidence in court at the [[Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders]] at Edinburgh. Sheriff Thomas Welsh QC, presiding, accepted Haigh’s detailed testimony, saying “David Haigh struck me as an honest intelligent witness who gave his evidence with calm dignity. He was obviously a man who had been significantly physically and psychologically damaged by his ordeal in the UAE and was in the process of what I consider will be a long recovery.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Judgement of Sheriff T Welsh QC [2017] SC EDIN 77 |url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/docs/default-source/cos-general-docs/pdf-docs-for-opinions/2017scedin77.pdf?sfvrsn=0}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In July 2018, a Dubai judge Justice [[Jeremy Cooke]] in the [[DIFC Courts|Dubai International Finance Centre Courts]] in a hearing where Haigh was not present or represented held that Haigh had fraudulently directed funds.<ref name=YEP/> Haigh was ordered to pay nearly £3.8 million plus costs, and his counterclaims were dismissed.<ref name=YEP/> GFH said it would start enforcement proceedings against Haigh in Dubai and London.<ref name=enforcement |
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=== Private prosecution === |
=== Private prosecution === |
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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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |date=20 May 2020}}</ref> |
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |date=20 May 2020}}</ref> |
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Haigh's hired [[WikiLeaks]] lawyer [[Melinda Taylor]] and Alun Jones QC to take the UAE to the [[United Nations]] for breaches of his human rights including, torture, unfair trial, arbitrary detention and discrimination on grounds of sexuality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.justice4haigh.com/melinda-taylor-joins-davids-legal-team/|title=Melinda Taylor joins David's legal team {{!}} Justice For Haigh|website=www.justice4haigh.com|access-date=2017-01-08}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Following release from jail in the UAE, Haigh has had a battle with [[Posttraumatic stress disorder|PTSD]]. Haigh was reported to have felt "suicidal" whilst detained in 2015 following being tortured and raped.<ref>{{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}}</ref> While imprisoned he spoke about these feelings with prisoner charity Prisoners Abroad.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Following release from jail in the UAE, Haigh has had a battle with [[Posttraumatic stress disorder|PTSD]]. Haigh was reported to have felt "suicidal" whilst detained in 2015 following being tortured and raped.<ref>{{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| |
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Haigh spent two months in the [[Priory Hospital]] in 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
Haigh spent two months in the [[Priory Hospital]] in 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> At the time, Haigh was representing hostage Dubai Princess [[Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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== Charity == |
== Charity == |
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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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=November 2023}} |
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Haigh established Du Justice, a charity to provide funds to those in Dubai jails that cannot afford legal representation or food. Du Justice has since been merged with the David Haigh Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dujustice.com/|title=DU Justice|website=www.dujustice.com|access-date=2017-01-08}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | During Haigh's leadership Leeds United became the very first Stonewall Diversity Champion in [[Football in England|English football]], championing [[LGBT social movements|gay equality]] within the club and Football.<ref>{{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 |
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In November 2017, in an interview with ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' newspaper, he revealed that at least 20 footballers had confided in him about being gay. Haigh was open about being gay while in his role at Leeds United, and said to The Mirror that many gay players confided in him at the time as a result.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/least-20-footballers-premier-league-11409395|title=At least 20 gay footballers in top leagues - but they're afraid to come out|last=West|first=Andy|date=2017-10-25|work=mirror|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref> In November 2017, [[PinkNews|Pink News]] credited Haigh along with [[Robbie Rogers]] and [[Thomas Hitzlsperger]] with paving the way for LGBT players and managers in football.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Haigh featured in the February 2020 ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' documentary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000sspm|title = BBC One |
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| ⚫ | In August 2021 Amnesty International confirmed that |
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| ⚫ | During Haigh's leadership Leeds United became the very first Stonewall Diversity Champion in [[Football in England|English football]], championing [[LGBT social movements|gay equality]] within the club and Football.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In November 2017, Pink News credited Haigh along with Rogers and Hitzlsperger with paving the way for LGBT players and managers in football.<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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In 2015, Haigh was convicted in Dubai of breach of trust after allegations that millions had been diverted in his and an associate's bank account using false invoices.<ref name="BBC News"/> He has maintained his innocence throughout.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-06-27 |title=Ex-Leeds MD David Haigh's prison blast at GFH Capital |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-28061069 |access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Haigh featured in the February 2020 ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' documentary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000sspm|title = BBC One – Panorama, the Missing Princess}}</ref> He is identified by Princess [[Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum]] as her representative in her fight for freedom. Haigh was interviewed<ref>{{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}}</ref> on ''[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|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 [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> |
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In August 2020, however, a UK judge refused him permission to appeal a High Court ruling to enforce a Gulf court order against him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slingo|date=2020-08-19|first=Jemma |title=Ex-football boss solicitor refused permission to appeal |url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/ex-football-boss-solicitor-refused-permission-to-appeal/5105377.article |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Law Gazette |language=en}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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[[Category:Human rights lawyers]] |
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[[Category:British people convicted of fraud]] |
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[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United Arab Emirates]] |
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[[Category:21st-century |
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Latest revision as of 05:35, 25 September 2024
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|
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 |
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "Calls for swift action against the UAE after PhD student jailed for life". shropshirestar.com. 22 November 2018.
- ^ "I was tortured in Dubai prison, claims former Leeds United chief David Haigh". The Guardian. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "Ex-Leeds United managing director 'beaten' in Dubai jail". BBC News. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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- ^ "Experienced Legal Consultants in Dubai – Haigh International Justice". 18 January 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ admin (11 August 2020). "David Haigh | Detained International". Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "BBC Radio Cornwall – David White, 16/07/2013, 30 Lives: David Haigh". BBC. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ a b Rogerson, Paul (4 March 2013). "David Haigh". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Newman, Alex (11 July 2013). "Making Haigh – GFH Capital's general counsel David Haigh on buying Leeds Utd". Law.com International.
- ^ "Person". sra.org.uk. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ 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.
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- ^ "The Iceman and the Marathon Runner!". Conservatives Abroad. 24 November 2012.
- ^ "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.
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- ^ a b c Corless, Liam (21 December 2015). "Former Leeds United chief to spend Christmas in Dubai prison". mirror. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
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- ^ a b "BBC Local Radio – The LGBT Sport Podcast, The One with David Haigh". BBC. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Jackman, Josh (26 October 2017). "20 players have told me they're gay, says top football boss". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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- ^ a b c "'I don't see a Premier League player coming out any time soon' – Ex-Leeds director Haigh | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Sampy, Rochelle (2 December 2013). "Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme". PinkNews. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "ROBBIE PARTNERS WITH CLUB FOR BEYOND IT". Leeds United A.F.C. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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- ^ "Katie Price supports Come Out 2 Play Campaign". 8 Days. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "#ComeOut2Play campaign reaches 40 million people in support of gay and bi pro footballers". GAY TIMES. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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- ^ 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.
- ^ Campbell, Joel (20 September 2021). "2020 National Diversity Awards is Lord Woolley's night". Voice Online. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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- ^ a b Townsend, Sarah (8 July 2018). "GFH to pursue David Haigh's Dubai and London assets in damages enforcement". The National. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ a b c 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.
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- ^ Conn, David (25 February 2015). "Former Leeds chief seeks private prosecution over 'deceitful' Dubai arrest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Harley, Nicky (20 May 2020). "Fraudster David Haigh loses English court action to avoid $6m debt recovery". The National. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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- ^ "Former Leeds Utd chief reveals Dubai jail suicide plan". Arabian Business. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Princess Latifa campaigner had 'phone compromised by Pegasus spyware'". The Guardian. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "HAIGH ACCEPTS CHAIRMAN ROLE". Leeds United A.F.C. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ "Leeds United promotes gay equality through Stonewall's diversity programme". PinkNews. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "How are we going to effectively tackle homophobia in football?". PinkNews. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ "BBC One – Panorama, the Missing Princess".
- ^ The Princess diaries: shocking secret videos of Dubai's Princess Latifa | 60 Minutes Australia, retrieved 19 April 2021
- ^ "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
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Haigh.