View source for Al-Saadi Gaddafi

{{Short description|Libyan footballer and son of Muammar Gaddafi (born 1973)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Al-Saadi Gaddafi
| image =
| fullname = Al-Saadi Muammar Gaddafi
| height = 1.84 m
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|5|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], [[Libyan Arab Republic|Libya]]
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| years1 = 2000–2001
| clubs1 = [[Al-Ahly SC (Tripoli)|Al-Ahly Tripoli]]
| caps1 = 14
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2001–2003
| clubs2 = [[Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli)|Al-Ittihad Tripoli]]
| caps2 = 74
| goals2 = 24
| years3 = 2003–2004
| clubs3 = [[A.C. Perugia Calcio|Perugia]]
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2005–2006
| clubs4 = [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2006–2007
| clubs5 = [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2001–2003
| nationalteam1 = [[Libya national football team|Libya]]
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0<ref>{{NFT player|id=14462}}</ref>
}}
'''Al-Saadi Muammar Gaddafi''', also spelt as '''Al-Saadi Moammer Al-Gaddafi''' ({{langx|ar|الساعدي معمر القذافي}}; born 25 May 1973), is a Libyan retired professional [[association football|football]] player. He captained [[Libya national football team|the national team]], but his career was widely attributed to the influence of his father [[Muammar Gaddafi]], the country's leader at the time.

In 2011, Gaddafi was the commander of [[Libyan Special Forces|Libya's Special Forces]] and participated in the [[Libyan civil war (2011)|Libyan Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/regime-fears-army-revolt-20110309-1bnw9.html|title=Regime fears army revolt|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=10 March 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|last=McElroy|first=Damien|location=London}}</ref> An [[Interpol notice]] was issued against him in 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/03/04/140202.html|title=Interpol issues global alert on Gaddafi & 15 others| work=Al Arabiya News|date=4 March 2011|access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref> In March 2014, he was arrested in [[Niger]] and extradited to [[Libya]], where he faced murder charges,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-niger-gaddafi-idUSBREA2507220140306|title=Niger extradites Gaddafi's son Saadi to Tripoli, Libya says| work=Reuters|date=6 March 2014|access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> which he was cleared of in 2018.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-saadi-gaddafi/libyan-court-clears-gaddafi-son-of-footballers-murder-idUSKCN1HA28Q|title=Libyan court clears Gaddafi son of footballer's murder|publisher=Reuters}}</ref> In August 2015, a video surfaced allegedly showing him being tortured.<ref name="guardian4815">{{cite news|last1=Stephen|first1=Chris|title=Saadi Gaddafi abuse video condemned by lawyers and rights groups|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/saadi-gaddafi-abuse-video-condemned-libya-al-hadba-tripoli|access-date=6 August 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 August 2015}}</ref>

He was a central figure in the [[SNC-Lavalin affair|SNC-Lavalin scandal]] in [[Canada]]. In 2019, [[AtkinsRéalis|SNC-Lavalin]], Canada's biggest engineering firm, pled guilty to paying Saadi $28 million in [[Bribery|bribes]] to secure construction contracts in Libya.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-12-18 |title=SNC-Lavalin division pleads guilty to fraud over Libya activities |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50751905 |access-date=2023-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Praet |first=Nicolas Van |date=2019-12-19 |title=SNC-Lavalin wooed Gadhafi's son with luxury jet and a second, bigger yacht to secure deals |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-snc-lavalin-spent-477-million-on-saadi-gadhafi-between-2001-and-2011/ |access-date=2023-02-09}}</ref> SNC-Lavalin also allegedly paid over $2 million for Saadi's 2008 visit to Canada, including bodyguards, companion services, $10,000 to an [[Escort agency|escort service]] in [[Vancouver]], a [[strip club]] in [[Montreal]], and box seats for a [[Spice Girls]] concert at the [[Scotiabank Arena|Air Canada Centre]] in [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SNC-Lavalin paid for Gadhafi son's debauchery while he was in Canada: report |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/snc-lavalin-paid-for-gadhafi-sons-debauchery-while-he-was-in-canada-report |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=nationalpost |language=en-CA}}</ref>

He was released in September 2021 and left for Turkey.<ref name=":0" />

== Football career ==
Gaddafi is known for his participation in Libyan football, which was arranged in his favor. One law forbade announcing the name of any football player with the exception of Gaddafi. Only numbers of other players were announced. Referees favored Gaddafi's club and security forces were used to silence protests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/05/151899.html|title=Benghazi soccer exemplifies the battle between Arab autocrats and their detractors|work=Al Arabiya|date=5 June 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|last=Dorsey|first=James M.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012005714/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/05/151899.html|archive-date=12 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/feb/23/muammar-gaddafi-madness|title=Muammar Gaddafi: method in his 'madness'|work=The Guardian|date=23 February 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|last=Whitaker|first=Brian|location=London}}</ref>

On 6 June 2000, the BBC reported that Gaddafi had signed with Maltese champions [[Birkirkara F.C.]] and would play for them in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/in_depth/2000/champions_league/779758.stm|title=Gaddafi in Champions League|work=BBC News|date=6 June 2000}}</ref> The move failed to materialize. In 2003, he signed for [[Italy|Italian]] [[Serie A]] team [[AC Perugia Calcio|Perugia]], employing [[Diego Maradona]] as his technical consultant and Canadian sprinter [[Ben Johnson (Canadian sprinter)|Ben Johnson]] as his personal trainer.<ref name= BothroydGaddafi>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/duncanwhite/8855320/Jay-Bothroyd-puts-good-times-with-playboy-Saadi-Gaddafi-son-of-dead-Libya-tyrant-Colonel-Gaddafi-behind-him.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030130315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/duncanwhite/8855320/Jay-Bothroyd-puts-good-times-with-playboy-Saadi-Gaddafi-son-of-dead-Libya-tyrant-Colonel-Gaddafi-behind-him.html|archive-date=30 October 2011|work=The National Post| first=Duncan|last=White|title=Jay Bothroyd puts good times with playboy Saadi Gaddafi, son of dead Libya tyrant Colonel Gaddafi, behind him|date=29 October 2011|access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref>

He made only one substitute appearance against Juventus for Perugia<ref>{{Cite web|last=Woodward|first=Hamish|date=3 June 2021|title=Al-Saadi Gaddafi – The Dictator's son turned Football Star|url=https://atletifo.com/football/al-saadi-gaddafi-the-dictators-son-turned-football-star/|access-date=8 June 2021|website=Atletifo Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> before failing a [[drug test]], due to presence in his system of the illegal substance [[Nandrolone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thesetpieces.com/features/football-gaddafi-family/|title=Football and the Gaddafi Family|author=Greg Lea|work=The Set Pieces|date=3 February 2015|access-date=6 August 2015}}</ref> An article in ''[[la Repubblica]]'' said that "Even at twice his current speed he would still be twice as slow as slow itself."<ref>{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Phil|title=The Book of Football Quotations|year=2008|publisher=Ebury Press|isbn=9780091923334|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bookoffootballqu0000unse/page/32 32]|url=https://archive.org/details/bookoffootballqu0000unse/page/32}}</ref>

He was captain of the [[Libya national football team]], captain of his home club in Tripoli, and president of the [[Libyan Football Federation]].<ref name="natpost">{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-ontario-man-who-helped-muammar-gaddafis-son-flee-libya|title=The Ontario man who helped Muammar Gaddafi's son flee Libya| work=The National Post|date=29 October 2011|access-date=29 October 2011|last=Bell|first=Stewart|location=Toronto}}</ref>

Gaddafi joined [[UEFA Champions League]] qualifiers [[Udinese Calcio]] in 2005–06, playing only 10 minutes in an end-of-season league match against [[Cagliari Calcio]]. He joined [[UC Sampdoria|U.C. Sampdoria]] during the 2006–07 season, without playing a single match.

== Business activities ==
In 2006, Al-Saadi Gaddafi and the Jamahiriya government launched a project to create a semi-autonomous city similar to [[Hong Kong]] in Libya, stretching 40&nbsp;km between [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] and the [[Tunisia]]n border.<!-- Zawiya District? --> The proposed new city would become a high tech, banking, medical and educational center not requiring [[Travel visa|visas]] to enter. The city would have its own international airport and a major seaport. Gaddafi promised religious tolerance with both "synagogues and churches" and no discrimination in this new metropolis. The new city would have "Western-style" business laws that Saadi thought European and American companies would find welcoming and familiar.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/alsaadi-gaddafi-libya-calling-418208.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129170323/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/alsaadi-gaddafi-libya-calling-418208.html |archive-date=2010-01-29 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Al-Saadi Gaddafi: Libya calling|work=The Independent|date=1 October 2006|access-date=15 October 2011| last=Owen|first=David}}</ref>

Gaddafi used to take great interest in the affairs of many of Libya's other business interests like [[Tamoil]], the oil refining and marketing company owned by the Libyan government, before the overthrow of the regime.<ref name=independent/>

=== Italian lawsuit ===
In July 2010, Gaddafi was ordered by an Italian court to pay €392,000 to a luxurious [[Liguria]]n hotel for an unpaid bill dating back to a month-long stay in the summer of 2007.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10601275|title=Italian court tells Gaddafi son to pay huge hotel bill| work=BBC World News|date=10 July 2010|access-date=12 July 2010}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Gaddafi is married to the daughter of [[Khweldi Hameidi|al-Khweildi al-Hmeidi]], a [[Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya|Libyan military commander]] who was involved in the [[1969 Libyan revolution|1969 Libyan coup d'état]] that brought Gaddafi to power.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ash |first=Nigel |date=2015-07-27 |title=Qaddafi collaborator Khuwaildi Al-Hamidi dies of heart attack |url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2015/07/qaddafi-collaborator-khuwaildi-al-hamidi-dies-of-heart-attack/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12531442|title=The Gaddafi family tree|work=BBC News|date=21 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="theatlanticwire" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=INVISIBLE DOG - KHADAFI'S LIBYA AND TODAY'S LIBYA |url=https://www.invisible-dog.com/libia_oggi_eng.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.invisible-dog.com}}</ref>

In 2009, a U.S. diplomatic cable called Gaddafi "the black sheep" of Muammar Gaddafi's family. It mentioned scuffles with European police, "abuse of drugs and alcohol, excessive partying" and "profligate affairs with women and men".<ref name=Tel20110929>{{cite news|last=Farmer|first=Ben |date=29 September 2011|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8798089/Libya-Gaddafi-mouthpiece-caught-fleeing-dressed-as-a-woman.html|title=Libya: Gaddafi mouthpiece caught 'fleeing dressed as a woman'|work=The Telegraph|access-date=1 October 2011}}</ref> Gaddafi's bisexuality had partly prompted the arrangement of his marriage to the commander's daughter, the cable said. Saadi was having a relationship with Bulgarian national Dafinka Mircheva.<ref name="theatlanticwire">{{cite news|work=The Atlantic Wire|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/09/times-kept-qaddafis-sons-bisexuality-quiet-governments-request/42597/|title=The New York Times Kept Qaddafi's Son's Bisexuality Quiet|date=16 September 2011|access-date=2 November 2011|archive-date=3 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603053504/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/09/times-kept-qaddafis-sons-bisexuality-quiet-governments-request/42597/}}</ref> After the Battle of Tripoli in 2011, Saadi's former teammate at [[Al Ahli SC (Tripoli)|Al Ahly Tripoli]] and close friend, [[Reda Al Tawarghi]], alleged that Saadi had jailed him for {{frac|2|1|2}} years for rejecting his "homosexual advances".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mirror.co.uk |date=2011-08-27 |title=Libya: Colonel Gaddafi's son locked up his best pal for rejecting his gay advances |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/libya-colonel-gaddafis-son-locked-150236 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Football stars to give evidence at trial of Gaddafi brothers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/10761156/Football-stars-to-give-evidence-at-trial-of-Gaddafi-brothers.html |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=11 April 2014 }}</ref>

== 2011 to present ==

=== Libyan civil war ===
On 27 February 2011, Saadi was interviewed by [[Christiane Amanpour]] on [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]], where he warned of imminent civil war and that if his father left Libya, the power vacuum would only lead to more chaos.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Joshua Miller |date=February 27, 2011 |title=Exclusive: Amanpour Interviews Gadhafi's Son |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/saif-gadhafi-interviewed-by-christiane-amanpour-worldwide-exclusive/story?id=13011545 |access-date=2022-07-06 |work=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaddafi's son fears civil war |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/gaddafis-son-fears-civil-war/neyx3bs6r |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=SBS News |language=en}}</ref> He also stated that he was looking for a lawyer to fight the travel ban against him levied by [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970|UN Security Council Resolution 1970]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-28 |title=Gaddafi Clan Lashes Out At UN |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gaddafi-family-lashes-out_n_828892 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>

On 15 March 2011, there were unconfirmed reports that a pilot by the name of Muhammad Mokhtar Osman had [[Suicide attack|flown his jet into]] the Gaddafi stronghold of [[Bab al-Azizia]] in Tripoli damaging it and injuring him and his brother [[Khamis Gaddafi|Khamis]].

Speaking to BBC Panorama, a former Jamahiriya soldier claimed that Gaddafi had personally ordered to shoot unarmed protesters in Benghazi when visiting the city's army barracks at the beginning of the uprising. Gaddafi confirmed that he had been at the barracks but denied giving orders to fire on protesters.<ref name="bbcpanorama">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12789740|title=Saadi Gaddafi 'gave order to shoot' in Benghazi revolt|work=BBC News | date=21 March 2011|access-date=21 March 2011}}</ref>

Gaddafi was reportedly the driving force behind a change in fighting tactics of the [[Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya|government's forces]]. Instead of using heavy infantry, tanks and armored cars – which could easily be distinguished from the Free Libyan Army and then destroyed by allied fighter jets – the fight against the rebels was pursued with small, fast and versatile units.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oe24.at/welt/libyen/Gaddafi-trickst-Rebellen-aus/21629016|title=Gaddafi trickst Rebellen aus|trans-title=Gaddafi tricks with rebels|work=OE24|date=30 March 2011| access-date=15 October 2011|last=Wendl|first=Karl|language=de}}</ref>

The rebels claimed that they captured him during the [[Battle of Tripoli (2011)|Battle of Tripoli]], on 21 August, but later the claim turned out to be false.

On 24 August, Gaddafi contacted [[CNN]], stating that he had the authority to negotiate on behalf of loyalist forces, and wished to discuss a ceasefire with U.S. and NATO authorities.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/24/libya.saadi.gadhafi/index.html|title=Gadhafi son offers to broker Libya cease-fire|work=CNN|date=24 August 2011|access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> A week later he contacted [[Al Arabiya]], stating his father was ready to step down, and called for dialogue with the [[National Transitional Council]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/31/164891.html|title=Saadi Qaddafi tells Al Arabiya his father is ready to relinquish power|date=31 August 2011|access-date=15 October 2011|work=Al Arabiya|first=Mustapha|last=Ajbaili|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013185209/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/31/164891.html|archive-date=13 October 2011}}</ref>

On 5 September, Gaddafi said in an interview with CNN that an "aggressive" speech by his brother [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi|Saif al-Islam]] had led to the breakdown of talks between NTC forces and Gaddafi loyalists in [[Bani Walid]], and said he had not seen his father in two months. Gaddafi also claimed a position of neutrality in the conflict and offered to mediate.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/gaddafis-son-blames-brother-over-speech-20110905-1jtgp.html| title=Gaddafi's son blames brother over speech | work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 September 2011|agency=Agence France-Presse|access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>

=== Flight to Niger ===
On 11 September 2011, Gaddafi fled to [[Niger]] with the help of his Australian bodyguard, Gary Peters, and was allowed entrance on humanitarian grounds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/09/2011911185616845334.html|title=Gaddafi son found as NTC rallies forces|work=Al Jazeera|date=11 September 2011|access-date=15 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="natpost2">{{cite news| url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/government-urged-to-proble-gaddafi-sons-bodyguard-who-is-based-in-canada| title=Probe urged into how Ontario-based bodyguard helped Gaddafi's son flee from Libya|work=The National Post|date=31 October 2011|access-date=31 October 2011|last=McMahon|first=Tamsin|location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Interview with Saadi Gaddafi's Bodyguard |url=https://www.vice.com/da/article/saadi-gaddafi-war-crimes/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Vice.com |date=31 January 2013 |language=da}}</ref> According to the government of Niger, they planned to detain Gaddafi while determining what to do with him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-sep-12-2011-2253|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=15 October 2011|date=12 September 2011|title=Mon, 12 Sep 2011|agency=Reuters}}</ref> Peters had also been trying to assemble a team to smuggle Saadi to [[Barbados]] or [[History of Venezuela (1999–present)|Venezuela]].<ref name="natpost3">{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/31/ontario-man-offered-contractors-1000-a-day-to-transport-gaddafis-son/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129144624/http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/31/ontario-man-offered-contractors-1000-a-day-to-transport-gaddafis-son/|archive-date=29 January 2013|title=Ontario man offered contractors $1,000 a day to transport Gaddafi's son|work=The National Post|date=31 October 2011|access-date=31 October 2011|last=Bell|first=Stewart|location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bell |first=Stewart |date=2013-03-22 |title='They'll want their questions answered': Ontario-based bodyguard in Saadi Gaddafi smuggling plot deported |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/gary-peters-deported |access-date=2022-07-06}}</ref>

On 29 September 2011, an Interpol [[Interpol notice|red notice]] was issued for Gaddafi. [[Brigi Rafini]], the Prime minister of Niger said he would not allow Gaddafi to be extradited.<ref name="Tel20110929" />

On 11 November 2011, Niger's President [[Mahamadou Issoufou]] said his government had decided to grant Gaddafi asylum "on humanitarian grounds".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/11/saadi-gaddafi-asylum-niger|work=The Guardian|date=11 November 2011|title=Niger grants asylum to Saadi Gaddafi|first=David|last=Smith}}</ref>

On 7 December 2011, the Mexican Interior Secretary said that Mexican intelligence agents broke up a smuggling ring attempting to bring Gaddafi into Mexico under a false name.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16075043|title=Mexico 'stops entry' of Libya's Saadi Gaddafi|date=7 December 2011|access-date=19 January 2012|work=BBC}}</ref>

On 10 February 2012, Saadi called into [[Al Arabiya|Al-Arabiya]] television by phone, where he claimed that he was in contact with Libyan tribes, militias, the [[National Transitional Council|NTC]], the national army, and other members of the Gaddafi family from his hideout in Niger. He also claimed that a large-scale Gaddafi loyalist uprising was imminent, that the NTC was not legitimate, and that he was ready to return to Libya "at any minute."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-02-10 |title=Saadi Gaddafi warns of uprising in Libya - TV |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-libya-saadi-idUKTRE8191QZ20120210 |access-date=2022-07-06}}</ref>

On 3 July 2012, the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' reported that Saadi and his entourage had been dining out regularly at upscale restaurants and frequenting nightclubs in [[Niamey]] despite Niger's government claim that he was under house arrest. It was also reported that the state guesthouse he was allegedly under house arrest in was in fact "a luxurious, high-walled mansion in one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods, near the U.S. and French embassies."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raghavan |first=Sudarsan |date=2012-07-03 |title=Niger resists Libyan demands for extradition of Moammar Gaddafi's playboy son |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/niger-resists-libyan-demands-for-extradition-of-moammar-gaddafis-playboy-son/2012/07/02/gJQAlBneKW_story.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== Extradition and torture allegations ===
On 5 March 2014, Libya announced that Gaddafi had been extradited by Niger and was in Tripoli.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 2014 |title=Niger Extradites Gaddafi's Son Saadi: Libyan Government |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/03/05/world/africa/05reuters-libya-niger-gaddafi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/RU7Ej |archive-date=7 September 2014 |access-date=5 March 2014 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> His lawyer, Nick Kaufman, protested about the move stating "extradition suggests that this was a legal process where Saadi Gadhafi was accorded a lawyer, a court hearing, and…it's not even clear to me that that even took place".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/06/gadhafi-son-improperly-extradited-to-libya-former-lawyer-says/|title=Gadhafi son improperly extradited to Libya, former lawyer says|work=cnn.com|access-date=6 August 2015|archive-date=4 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804125229/http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/06/gadhafi-son-improperly-extradited-to-libya-former-lawyer-says/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later that month, Gaddafi gave an apology to the Libyan people from a Tripoli prison which was broadcast on Libyan state TV. He apologized for "all the harm I've caused and for disturbing the security and stability of Libya" and called for "those who carry weapons to hand over their weapons". He said he was being treated well in prison.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-29 |title=Gaddafi's son Saadi 'apologises to the Libyan people' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26795941 |access-date=2023-11-07}}</ref>

In May 2015, Gaddafi appeared in a Tripoli court and was formally charged with unlawful imprisonment and murder for the 2005 killing of football player and coach [[Bashir al-Riani]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spencer|first1=Richard|title=Saadi Gaddafi extradited to Libya|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/10679580/Saadi-Gaddafi-extradited-to-Libya.html|access-date=6 August 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Saadi Gaddafi in court in Libya for start of murder trial |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/11595914/Saadi-Gaddafi-in-court-in-Libya-for-start-of-murder-trial.html|access-date=6 August 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=10 May 2015}}</ref>

In early August 2015, a video surfaced that appeared to show a blindfolded Gaddafi being forced to listen to other men allegedly being tortured in the next room. Then the guards beat the man appearing to be Gaddafi on the feet as he screams, after asking him if preferred to be beaten on the feet or on his buttocks. "It does appear to be Saadi Gaddafi," one of his lawyers, [[Melinda Taylor]], told [[RT (TV network)|RT]]. "He looks the same in [the] sense [that] his head ... [had been] shaved which happened to him last year." No legal team appears to be present.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-08-05 |title='Abuse' video of Gaddafi's son in Tripoli jail prompts probe by Libyan authorities {{!}} 'Abuse' video of Gaddafi's son in Tripoli jail prompts probe by Libyan authorities |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150805/world-neighbours/article/abuse-video-gaddafis-son-tripoli-jail-prompts-probe-libyan |access-date=2025-11-10 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |language=en}}</ref>

International human rights groups and activists condemned the video, which appeared to have been recorded at al-Hadba prison in Tripoli, and was first released by Arabic network Clear News.<ref name="guardian4815" />

"This is a shocking video that raises questions about conditions inside the prison," said [[Karim Ahmad Khan|Karim Khan]], a British attorney who represents Libya's former Prime minister [[Baghdadi Mahmudi]], who is also at al-Hadba. "The international community needs to demand a full investigation."<ref name="guardian4815" />

In June 2017, Haitham Tajouri's [[Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade|Tripoli Revolutionaries' Brigade]] seized al-Hadba prison and relocated senior Gaddafi regime figures, including Saadi, to the [[Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel Tripoli]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-13 |title=Abdullah Senussi holds court at Tripoli's Radisson Blu Mahari Hotel |url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2017/06/abdullah-senussi-holds-court-at-tripolis-radisson-blu-mahari-hotel/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US}}</ref> While under interrogation by Tajouri's militia, Saadi claimed that [[Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Mohammed bin Zayed]], the ''de facto'' ruler of the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], was working on a plan to bring [[Saif al-Islam Gaddafi]] to power in order to "calm the situation down" in Libya.<ref>{{Citation |title=Saadi Gaddafi on UAE ruler's links with Libyan assassination plotter | date=26 June 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvycHPE817o |access-date=2023-03-20 |language=en}}</ref>

An appeals court on 3 April 2018 cleared Saadi from the charge of murdering the footballer Bashir. He was however fined 500 [[Libyan dinar]]s and a [[Suspended sentence|suspended]] one-year prison term for drinking and possessing alcohol.<ref name="reuters" />

=== Release and alleged exile to Turkey ===
As of 5 September 2021, he has been released from custody from al-Hadaba prison and left for Turkey, but Turkey's foreign ministry claimed it had "no knowledge" of Saadi's presence in Istanbul.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 September 2021|title=Libya frees Saadi Gaddafi|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/libya-frees-saadi-gaddafi-son-former-leader-2021-09-05/|access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=SABAH |first=DAILY |date=2021-09-06 |title=Gadhafi's son came to Turkey after prison release: Reports |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/gadhafis-son-came-to-turkey-after-prison-release-reports |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Turkey denies hosting Gadaafi's son in Istanbul {{!}} The Libya Observer |url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/turkey-denies-hosting-gadaafis-son-istanbul |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=www.libyaobserver.ly |language=en}}</ref> On 10 September 2021, [[Moussa Ibrahim]] confirmed that Saadi was in Turkey and that Egypt and Saudi Arabia had also offered to host Saadi.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-10 |title=Libyan dictator's son Saadi Gaddafi in Turkey: spokesman |url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/libyan-dictators-son-saadi-gaddafi-turkey-spokesman |access-date=2022-07-06 |work=The New Arab |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Conflicting Reports Emerge about Al-Saadi Gaddafi's Presence in Turkey |url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3184626/conflicting-reports-emerge-about-al-saadi-gaddafi%E2%80%99s-presence-turkey |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Asharq AL-awsat |language=en}}</ref> It was claimed that Saadi's captors denied him the appropriate medical care.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/1841706/saadi-gaddafi%E2%80%99s-family-plans-int%E2%80%99l-lawsuit-release-him|title=Saadi Gaddafi's Family Plans Int'l Lawsuit to Release him|website=Asharq AL-awsat|accessdate=6 December 2022}}</ref>

As of 2023, he was reported to reside in the Turkish city of Istanbul.<ref>{{cite news |title=12 Years After Gaddafi's Death, What Do We Know about His Family? |url=https://english.aawsat.com/features/4617141-12-years-after-gaddafi%E2%80%99s-death-what-do-we-know-about-his-family |work=english.aawsat.com |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Libya|Biography|Politics}}
* [[List of doping cases in sport|List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences]]
* [[SNC-Lavalin affair|SNC-Lavalin scandal]]
{{clear|right}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{NFT player|14462}}
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4596716.stm Gaddafi set to quit Udinese]
{{Muammar Gaddafi}}
{{Libyan civil war|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaddafi, Al-Saadi}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Libya men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Libyan expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Al Ittihad SCSC (Tripoli) players]]
[[Category:Gaddafi family|Al-Saadi]]
[[Category:Doping cases in association football]]
[[Category:Libyan men's footballers]]
[[Category:Libyan sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Footballers from Tripoli, Libya]]
[[Category:AC Perugia Calcio players]]
[[Category:Al Ahli SC (Tripoli) players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:UC Sampdoria players]]
[[Category:Udinese Calcio players]]
[[Category:People extradited from Niger]]
[[Category:People extradited to Libya]]
[[Category:Libyan people imprisoned abroad]]
[[Category:Libyan military personnel]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Libyan expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Libyan Premier League players]]
[[Category:LGBTQ association football players]]
[[Category:People acquitted of murder]]
[[Category:Children of heads of state]]
[[Category:Bisexual men]]
[[Category:Children of prime ministers]]