Football: A former English star trapped by a fake Saudi sheikh in Morocco

Adrian Heath explained that he was approached for a supposed coaching position in the Middle East by individuals presenting themselves as representatives of a Saudi sheikh. After several telephone exchanges, he was invited to meet his potential employers in Morocco. Upon arrival at the airport, he was greeted by two men who took him to an isolated port town. Once there, the technician was held hostage in a room by three individuals under the threat of a knife, reports Daily Star.

The kidnappers demanded the payment of a ransom in the six-figure range, threatening to harm his family if he did not comply. Adrian Heath tried to buy time by citing banking constraints related to the time difference with the United States. During a telephone call with his wife, she detected the anomaly of the situation and firmly stated that no funds transfer could be made without her husband’s physical presence, thus complicating the criminals’ plans.

The release of the former footballer was made possible by the responsiveness of his relatives and the use of geolocation services. His son alerted an FBI official in New York, while Adrian Heath managed to convince his kidnappers that their only chance of getting the money was for him to return home. The kidnappers finally took him to Tangier-Ibn Battouta airport, from where he was able to leave the country. Upon his return to the United States, he was placed under federal protection. This event has since led the English Coaches’ Union to implement new security protocols to protect sports professionals against fraudulent solicitations.