According to Football Espana a respected figure in Andalucian sport is claiming that Malaga are close to being taken over by Paris Saint-Germain’s owner Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Malaga are in financial trouble after their owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani decided to cut back on financing the club’s operations and not paying their bills.
The La Liga side is currently appealing a season-long European ban handed to them by UEFA for various debts to footballers and other clubs. They also have a March 31 deadline where they must settle remaining ‘overdue payables’, reported to be €10m, or face being banned for a second season in Europe.
According to Andalucian based entrepreneur Alfredo Guerisoli on Canal Sur Radio this week, owner Al-Thani has found a potential solution in a quick sale, with negotiations going on with cousin Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and described as ‘advanced’.
Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani purchased 70% of PSG’s shares through his Qatar Sports Investments (QSI)company in June 2011 and has since overseen heavy investment in the Paris side.
Argentine Guerisoli claims that the deal could be finalised by the end of the month, in time to clear the debts and avoid that second UEFA suspension.
Malaga is through to the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League and is currently in sixth place in La Liga, four points behind Real Sociedad who occupy the fourth and final Champions League place.
I wonder what the Uefa’s rules are on cross-ownership? What happens if Malaga and PSG were to meet in the Champions League after Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani bought the Spanish side? Could Al-Thani dictate what team advanced in the competition?
QSI has invested hundreds of millions of euros into Paris Saint-Germain. Would they do the same in Malaga, and build a side that could compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona?
