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Mustafa Karim (Daniel
Lundh) 2004
Duration: 311 (7.19) - 313 (7.21), 322 (7.30) - 323 (7.31) Pilar Hernandez had off-loaded Karl Fletcher to Al-Arabi Sports Club in Saudi
Arabia in the 2003-04 pre-season, in order to bring in world-class striker Luke Davenport. By the middle of that season,
Harchester United were in desperate need of investment, with biggest
creditors Coopers Bank delivering the ultimatum that the club would cease to
exist if they dropped below sixth place in the Premier League table. Knowing
he could approach some influential people, Pilar requests Fletch's help to
save the club he loves, and brings to Harchester Sheik Abdul Al-Shaziz, the brother of Fletch's
chairman, and his assistant Mustafa Karim.
Shortly after they arrive, Fletch and Jeff Stein plot revenge on Pilar by cutting her out of the deal and giving Jeff her job when the Sheik buys. Pilar is a step ahead and scuppers their plans by informing Donna Connelly the Sheik plans to under-cut her in the sale of her shares. This leaves the Sheik open to a sole proposal by Pilar - wait until Harchester go bust and then pick up the club at a cheaper price, with Pilar still running it.
Karim takes
over negotiations while the Shiek is abroad, and plans are set in motion with
Stuart Naysmith for Harchester to lose the
Leicester game and drop below sixth. However, Marcel Sabatier overhears Karim speaking in his
native tongue to the Sheik about the plan. Wanting to expose Pilar and
Stuart, Marcel joins forces with Paul Hankin and takes a tape recorder to
Karim's room, bluffing how Pilar has brought him in on the deal, hoping Karim
will provide details, but to no avail. Marcel gets on the pitch and fights to
keep Harchester’s side up while Karim questions Marcel’s
behaviour when he’s supposed to be in on the deal. Pilar says she
hasn’t brought Marcel in, and Karim pulls out, knowing the Sheik cannot
be compromised. He waits for Marcel, and offers a five-year contract at Roma
in order for Marcel to stay quiet about the deal.
At the
season's close, Tash Parker gets wind that Stuart has been
throwing games, thinking it is the same as last year when husband Jamie was killed. Getting Viv Wright on side, he locks the team in the
dressing room until Marcel speaks up and tells Stuart it is time to come
clean. Pilar announces Stuart's resignation, and having saved herself and
gotten the team on side, is worried an embittered Stuart is going to reveal
all. She turns to Karim, thinking he will offer Stuart another club for his
silence as he did Marcel, but Karim knows he must protect the Sheik at all
costs. Believing Stuart to be the only male staying in Abi's house, an assassin creeps in and
administers a lethal injection to Marcel! After originally drawing a line
with Karim that the matter be closed or their solicitors release the truth,
Pilar's conscience and her love for Marcel forces her to confess the truth
about what happened in front of the stunned team and press. She and Stuart
then have to go into protective custody until those responsible for Marcel's
death are caught.
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