UAE Businessman’s Israeli Soccer Dream in Flux After Audit
- Sheikh said to rely on Venezuelan bonds for much of net worth
- Deal would be among the most noteworthy since Abraham Accords
Photographer: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
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An Emirati businessman’s proposed deal to become part-owner of an Israeli soccer club is hanging in the balance after the league raised questions about his net worth and investments.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family, is attempting to buy a 50% stake in Beitar Jerusalem, a six-time league champion that counts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among its supporters. It would be the highest-profile ownership arrangement for an Arab investor in the country, underscoring a diplomatic warming between the two nations.