LONDON // The UAE's hope of hosting a 39th game as part of the English Premier League's world plan look doomed according to Sepp Blatter.
The Fifa president is not a fan of the idea to play a competitive match overseas, either as an extra game in the league or in the domestic cups. Dubai, with Sports City the venue, and Abu Dhabi were among the possible cities to host such a game from 2011 with the Middle East, Japan, Australia and America seen as prime locations of interest.
The Premier League is still looking at ways to satisfy clubs, the FA and Fifa over its ambitious proposals.
It had hoped to include an extra round of league games, which would then be held in five cities around the world, most notably in Asia. A League Cup game has also been considered to help add spark to a competition that often draws small crowds in the early rounds.
But despite the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Mohammed bin Hammam warming to the idea last month, Blatter believes it is a non-event that should be forgotten. He said: "The 39th game as presented will never happen. To my knowledge what they (the Premier League) want to do is perhaps to play some of the League Cup matches somewhere outside of England.
"That's the last information I got. They should just forget about that."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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