Liga BBVA: Abdullah Al-Thani announces departure from Malaga CF via Twitter; club is for sale

Abdullah Al-Thani, a Qatari sheikh and the owner of Malaga CF (Liga BBVA), announced his departure from the club on his official Twitter account on 06/06/2014. The majority shareholder of the Spanish club believes that he has not found in Malaga the "respect, appreciation and equality" he deserved. The Andalusian club is now for sale.

Al-Thani is a cousin of Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, and bought Malaga on 11/06/2010 for an estimated €36m; he invested €150m more in the club during the first two seasons. In the offseason of 2012, he interrupted his financial support, which led to the non-payment of wages of some players. As a result, on 22/05/2013, UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) excluded the Andalusian club from the 2013-14 Europa League, and sentenced him to a fine of €300,000 for non-compliance with financial fair play.

Malaga CF finished 11^th in Liga BBVA in 2013-14 with 45 points.

• In an interview with a Spanish media outlet, on 25/05/2014, Abdullah Al-Thani had said he would announce in June 2014 whether or not he would continue his involvement…