Court suspends Qatari owner of Spanish club Málaga

MADRID (AP) — A Spanish court on Thursday suspended the Qatari owner of second-divsion club Málaga for six months as it investigates alleged irregularities involving his administration.

The ruling against owner Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani was made less than a month after police entered the headquarters of the club and seized documents related to the court case.

Al-Thani, who took over Málaga in 2010, was sued by the club’s minority owners over the alleged administrative irregularities. The allegations include illegal appropriation.

Al-Thani can appeal Thursday’s court ruling. A court-appointed administrator will run the club during the owner’s absence. The six-month period can be extended, according to the ruling.

The team from southern Spain is 15th in the 22-team second-division standings. It last played in the first division in the 2017-18 season.