Regular readers of this notebook will know about my long-standing love affair (not too strong a word) with Tottenham Hotspur, the north London football club I’ve supported through thick and thin for 50-odd years.
I’ve made less of my other football allegiance, with Glasgow Celtic, the Scottish club that my Irish father supported all those years ago, and which I kind of inherited from him.
Celtic was, and still is, a magnet for Irish football fans throughout the world, and when I was growing up it had the best team in Europe, proving it by winning the continental championship in 1967.
Anyway, those are my two football teams. Being in different leagues – English and Scottish – they have very rarely played each other, so I’ve been largely spared the agony of choosing one over the other in a game.
Football fanhood brings with it a whole set of prejudices and built-in antipathies, and with my Spurs-Celtic profile my natural enemies must be Arsenal, the other north London club, and Rangers, the other (now much smaller) Glasgow club.
The rivalry in both cases is intense, but probably more so in Glasgow, where there is a religious dimension to give it edge. Celtic has a Catholic tradition, Rangers a Protestant one, and these things matter in Glasgow.
All this is by way of introduction to Nick Peel, the new chief executive of Marka, Dubai’s upmarket retailing and restaurants business, whom I met the other day.
Nick’s CV is impressive, with lots of experience at the sharp end of branded goods retailing, but two things stick out, especially for me: his stints at Arsenal and Rangers as an executive in the clubs’ retail, merchandising and brands business.
Mr Peel kindly invited me and other journalists to a “round-table” lunch, his first serious bit of media exposure since he took over the Marka job last year.
I must admit to a twinge of trepidation at breaking bread with the “enemy”, but there was no need: he is a gracious and hospitable chap, and we swapped stories of the Old Firm – as the Celtic-Rangers rivalry was known before Rangers got themselves relegated as a punishment for financial irregularities.
We had friends in common, and it’s even likely we met in Glasgow some years back at a football match. Small world.
His connection to Rangers was purely professional anyway, as he revealed that he had the honour of being only the second Catholic director the club had employed. But his loyalty to Arsenal was deeper, and he counted himself a true Arsenal fan. Well, I decided not to hold that against him, benefit of the doubt, etc.
With that background, however, his views – personal, he stressed, nothing to do with Marka – on the football business were worth close attention. He thought there were only four clubs that could travel internationally: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and one of the Milan clubs.
Surprising that. – and London – would disagree. Arsenal, in particular, might feel left out. After all, they have cultivated fans all over the world for many years, none more so than in the UAE, where they have long-standing links with Emirates.
But none of that counted for much in Nick’s book, despite his declared loyalties.
He insisted: “There are more Arsenal fans in Nigeria than there are in the UAE, or in north London.” A controversial view that I hope we will explore further.
fkane@thenational.ae
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How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Result
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,950m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Tour de France Stage 16:
165km run from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.