La Liga, the top professional association of Spanish football, will set up an office in Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA), its first outside of Spain.
The office will act as a base to attract sponsorships and promote Spanish football teams, which include the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, in the Mena region.
The office will be operational towards the end of next month.
“There is no doubt that our partnership with LA Liga, the top professional association of the Spanish football league, will enhance DAFZA’s position as the premier base in the region for foreign investments. The announcement did not come as a surprise to many, as we consistently strive to facilitate and enhance our tenants’ business operations within the Freezone,” said Mohammed Al Zarooni, the Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone.
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AIDA RETURNS
Director: Carol Mansour
Starring: Aida Abboud, Carol Mansour
Rating: 3.5./5
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5