Fabio Cannavaro has a knee injury of undetermined severity, but his coach at the Dubai club Al Ahli expects that the former Fifa World Player of the Year will be sidelined for a considerable time.
David O'Leary, the former Leeds United and Aston Villa manager, said the Italian defender suffered the injury in a home match against Kalba last weekend.
"It's the kind of injury, I think he could be out for a while with," O'Leary said.
"His knee is very swollen," he said, holding his hands about eight inches apart. "We'll probably have to have a scan and look at it, injury-wise.
"I can't see it being a quick injury. Until we get the scans we have to wait and see."
Cannavaro, 37, was the centrepiece off-season signing at Ahli after their eighth-place finish in a 12-team league. He had not missed a Pro League match until Thursday night, when Ahli were riddled for five goals by the league leaders Al Jazira.
"When you come to Al Jazira," O'Leary said, "you could do with him out there."
Ahli signed Cannavaro to a two-year contract worth as much as Dh22.5 million per season, but the club have leaked goals throughout the season, conceding 27 in 15 matches, a total exceeded in the league by only the two promoted sides.
With Cannavaro hurt, the club now is in crisis in defence; no fewer than four centre-backs are on the injured list.
"We're struggling," O'Leary said outside Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium after a 5-1 defeat. "We're losing a lot of centre-backs. We've got injuries. Fabio is hurt, and we've got three other centre-backs hurt. The lad (Khalid Mohammed) who had to come off at halftime was our last one. We had nobody else. He got hurt; he twisted his ankle. We had to put in a lad (Ahmed Salem) who doesn't play there, and the second half we looked very vulnerable because of that."
He added: "The one thing we didn't need, if anything, was to lose a player in the centre-back position. When you come to Al Jazira, that's one position you don't want to be losing players. We had nobody else."
Ahli's decision to spend one of its three precious foreigners squad slots on an ageing defender like Cannavaro has been second-guessed. The preponderance of foreigners in the Pro League are attacking players.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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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
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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