David Haigh's abrupt detention in Dubai is not linked to the recent takeover of the club by Massimo Cellino or Cellino himself, according to a statement from Gulf Finance House on Monday.
Haigh unwittingly flew himself into the arms of the Dubai police a week last Sunday, expecting to be offered a new role at GFH after leaving the job as Managing Director of Leeds United last month, he was arrested and thrown in jail following allegations of financial wrongdoing.
A source for the "shocked and horrified" Haigh, said: ‘He is confident he has done nothing wrong or illegal... and that the Dubai authorities will see through what he insists are baseless allegations.’
Eight days on and Haigh is still believed to be in custody. Press reports suggest today that he is being held under investigation of a $6.45 embezzlement, approximately £3.8m.
GFH said on Monday: "The issues that have been referred to the Dubai and UK authorities are unrelated to GFH Capital’s relationship with Mr Massimo Cellino, the new majority owner and fellow shareholder in Leeds United, or his purchase of a 75 percent stake in the club from GFH earlier this year.”
The statement continued:"GFH Capital is confident that it has fulfilled all its duties and obligations properly in bringing the allegations against David Haigh to the attention of the appropriate authorities,"
So it looks like the allegations relate to Haigh's time at Leeds under GFH Capital's watch, rather than anything allegedly done over the sale to Cellino.
Haigh was quizzed by West Yorkshire Police following allegations of misappropriation of club funds when it was revealed that CCTV cameras in the boardroom toilets at Elland Road, which he declared was done following rumours that class A drugs were being used behind the scenes at Elland Road.
New owner Massimo Cellino has also hired "forensic lawyers" to pore over the accounts at Elland Road astonished that the club are losing a reported £1m a month.
Haigh has also taken to twitter in recent weeks promising he will "kiss and tell" over his version of events since GFH took over the club in December 2012 and the sale of a majority stake to Cellino 13 months later.
However whilst he languishes in a Dubai jail, his story may remain untold for a little longer particularly as it seems likely that litigation will spawn from his arrest.
Meanwhile Sport Capital, a UK company connected to Haigh has issued a winding up petition against the club set to be heard on June 9th. This has forced the club to suspend all credit and debit card season ticket renewals for the time being, although fans can still pay by cash, cheque or interest free instalments.