Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006, after it left the Oceania confederation. This was meant to be a win-win move for the Aussies as well as the AFC.
As a member of Oceania, Australia had endured tough qualifying roads to the Fifa World Cup. They qualified only once in 10 attempts over 40 years, losing play-offs to Argentina in 1994, Iran in 1998 and Uruguay in 2002 before breaking through against Uruguay in 2006.
By moving to the AFC, Australia were able to pursue one of four Asian berths; no more of the “half-berth” handed to Oceania. The new surroundings worked wonders.
Australia qualified out of Asia for both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. In 2011, the Socceroos were runners-up in the Asian Cup; in 2015, they won it.
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Also, A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers won the Asian Champions League last season, and the Australian women’s team has advanced from Asia to play in three straight Fifa Women’s World Cups.
Australia’s Asian experiment made competition tougher for the rest of the continent, including the Gulf nations, and rumbles began to be heard that some AFC members wanted Australia removed from the confederation.
Just before the Asian Cup final, in January, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa confirmed to Al Ittihad newspaper, sister publication of The National, that he was aware of sentiment inside his organisation to have Australia expelled.
Last weekend at a meeting organised by the Football Association and in the presence of Yousef Al Serkal, the FA president, the general secretary of the Sharjah Sports Council, Ahmed Nasser Al Fardan, said: “The decision to have Australia in Asian football is unjust and non-beneficial to the continent and the AFC should reconsider this.”
“If Australia were not a part of the AFC, then the UAE national team would have reached the final of the Asian Cup,” Al Fardan added, referring to the Emiratis’ 2-0 loss to the hosts in the semi-finals.
Critics say the relationship has Australia benefiting hugely from their Asian involvement without giving much in return.
Federations in the Middle East now find themselves trying to catch up to Australia, as well as South Korea, Japan and Iran, the quartet who have appeared at the past two World Cups. Australia, the new boys, often are seen as a country “taking away” a place from Asia’s other sides.
What does Australia contribute to the AFC?
It is one of the top five markets for television rights in the continent. It brings an example of standards and practices to a federation where those qualities cannot be assumed. It is a multi-cultural society.
Do they make the confederation stronger? Yes. Their example as tough competitors across competitions could, over time, prompt other Asian federations to lift their own game.
During the past two decades, when Japan were a dominant force in Asia, they organised conferences and forums with other Asian federations to showcase “how it is done”.
When asked why they should share their secrets, the Japanese responded: “We will get better only if others around us improve and challenge us.”
Australia can do the same for Asian football, setting the bar high, requiring others to rise if they are to displace them.
The AFC could take advantage of Football Federation Australia, just as it did with Japan, by arranging conferences and forums to show “how it is done” down under.
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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
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ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
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Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
