LIV Golf Chairman Faces $74 Million Lawsuit for ‘Direct’ Involvement in ‘Malicious’ MBS-Ordered Campaign
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of LIV Golf and governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is being sued for $74 million for his “direct” involvement in a “malicious” operation instructed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS). First reported by The Athletic, the new allegations were delivered to Al-Rumayyan last week at several locations, including the PIF headquarters and the home stadium of Newcastle United, of which Al-Rumayyan is also the chairman.
The alleged MBS-ordered plot involves former Saudi intelligence chief Dr. Saad Aljabri. Aljabri, who currently lives in exile in Canada, claims that Al-Rumayyan took part in carrying out the “instructions” of MBS with the goal of “harming, silencing and ultimately destroying” the former spymaster and his family.
Before fleeing the country, Aljabri reported to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef (MBN). MBN was ousted by MBS in 2017. Since then, Aljabri alleges that MBS has set out on a campaign of more than three years to target his family.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan is the chairman of Manchester United and LIV Golf.
Imago
Saudi Arabia has accused Aljabri of embezzling large sums from the state, but the former aid vehemently denies the claims.
According to Aljabri, the campaign against him included a 2018 effort by a six-person “hit squad” to murder him in Canada during the same month as the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul.
“I expect to be killed one day, because this guy will not rest until he sees me dead,” Aljabri told 60 Minutes in 2021, speaking about MBS.
Additionally, the plot includes the “wrongful kidnapping and detention” of Aljabri’s children. Omar and Sarah Aljabri were banned from leaving Riyadh in 2017 for “security” purposes and later detained in Saudi prisons in 2020. Human Rights Watch and the U.N. have been working on behalf of their release for four years. Omar and Sarah were set to continue their U.S. education in Boston before being detained.
The former aid’s updated claim alleges that the LIV chairman met with MBS and the other listed defendants “to discuss how to create pressure on Aljabri.”
The documents also appear to show that Al-Rumayyan helped “transfer” 20 companies to the PIF without due process, acting on behalf of MBS. The claim states that this “misappropriation of property” was conducted for MBS and his “political reasons.”
The lawsuit comes just days after Al-Rumayyan reportedly had a lengthy conversation with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan over the phone. During the discussion, it is believed that the two parties substantially advanced their negotiations toward a finalized framework agreement. On Tuesday, Sports Business Journal reported that Monahan traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Al-Rumayyan this week for their first in person gathering since the summer.
Since June 6, the PIF, PGA Tour and DP World Tour have been working to agree on terms for a new for-profit entity—temporarily called PGA Tour Enterprises—that would unite the men’s professional game.
The “framework agreement” announced in June ended the litigation between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour and set a Dec. 31 deadline for the competition of a deal. That deadline has since been extended, and it is believed the two sides will settle on an agreement before the 2024 Masters.
As written in the June 6 “framework agreement,” Al-Rumayyan will be the chairman of the board of directors of PGA Tour Enterprises when the PIF, PGA Tour and DP World Tour reach a final agreement to unify the game.
