A Spanish court has ordered the trial of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani, the former president of Málaga CF and a member of Qatar’s royal family, along with three of his sons, over alleged misconduct during their stewardship of the football club.
According to court documents dated Monday and confirmed by legal sources on Wednesday, the Al-Thani family members are facing charges including misappropriation of funds, mismanagement, and enforcing exploitative contracts during their time at the helm of the Andalusian club.
Should they be found guilty, the former club executives could face custodial sentences.
Sheikh Al-Thani acquired Málaga CF in 2010 and swiftly embarked on a high-spending strategy that brought in marquee players such as Santi Cazorla and former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The investment initially paid off, culminating in a memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013.
However, the club’s fortunes rapidly declined. Málaga suffered financial instability, lost key players, and were eventually relegated from La Liga in 2018. In 2023, they dropped further into Spain’s third tier, amid ongoing financial difficulties exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the downturn, Spanish tax authorities placed the club under financial oversight, and a mass redundancy plan was implemented.
In 2020, a court removed Sheikh Al-Thani from his presidential role following a legal complaint filed by minority shareholders, marking the start of a broader judicial investigation into the management of the club’s finances.
