As if Covid-19 had not already disrupted football enough, European fans yesterday learnt of potentially the most tectonic shift for the game in decades. Twelve of England, Spain and Italy's biggest clubs announced their intention to form a breakaway continental league.
Presidents of the clubs say that the new European Super League (ESL) will modernise football for the benefit of all who care about the game.
This view is not shared widely, judging by the negative reaction of supporters, commentators, governing bodies and even national governments. In a video that clocked more than one million views within hours, UK expert Gary Neville said fans would be "seething listening to these announcements". British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron have both said that the development will damage the world's most popular sport, and leagues from across Europe have said they are willing to respond with punitive measures.
Some fans are worried that the new ESL might damage national leagues. PA
There is a danger that some will view this as a betrayal of their loyalty
A central complaint, particularly among fans, is that the move surrenders the game to commercialisation. If it goes ahead, ESL is likely to generate unprecedented profits. But let’s not forget, big business in football did not begin yesterday. The tension between loyalty to the sport's community origins and its increasingly global television audience is nothing new. Knee-jerk sceptics must remember that football's popularity – some estimates claim the total number of fans worldwide to be 4 billion people – would not have been possible without business. Politicians should appreciate the same; the English Premier League is considered one of the UK's most prized exports and a boon for its soft power.
That said, there are good reasons for caution. None of the ESL's founding teams will ever be relegated from the new division, weakening the competitive aspect of the game, a central part of its appeal. This will diminish the achievement of smaller clubs who succeed. Who could forget Leicester City’s against-all-odds 2015-2016 Premier League triumph?
The origin of football's popularity is the hard work of communities, many of them not wealthy, who commit themselves to arguably the most accessible and egalitarian game in the history of team sports. For an entire year, fans have been locked out of stadiums, places many of them have been frequenting for life. There is a danger that some will view this as a betrayal of their loyalty.
On Sunday, the ESL said its new model would help to support and grow the game during a time of crisis. It has committed to preserving the traditional calendar of national leagues, while also fulfilling the growing demand for higher-quality matches. These ambitions are admirable, and they will have to materialise if the body is to win the trust of fans.
The new league is not the first example of commercialisation in the game, but it is a significant one. Its next steps could reveal much about the heart and future of the game. Only time will tell if its ambitions are tenable.
The ESL will need some balls in the back of the net, and fast. As former England player Michael Owen once famously observed, if a team cannot score goals, they are hardly ever going to win.
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
