Case against top football official dropped

Dubai: Lack of corroborated evidence has resulted in prosecutors dropping charges against a top Emirati football official accused of engaging in homosexual activity with a 13-year-old schoolboy, Gulf News learnt Tuesday.

Deira Prosecution Tuesday dropped the primary charges of involvement in homosexual activity, kidnapping and threats, which the football administrator and a 20-year-old Syrian suspect were facing, a senior prosecutor said.

Additional charges of indecent behaviour and possession of pornographic material were also dropped.

The suspects were detained on May 10. They were later released on bail. They had strongly denied the accusations.

'Reconciled'

A source said the football official reconciled with the schoolboy, who allegedly dropped his complaint after collecting nearly Dh1 million in compensation.