The Premier League calendar has taken on another meaning.
The English top flight’s 20 clubs and its stakeholders convene by videoconference on Friday to discuss ‘Project Restart’, the plan to bring football back.
A separate significant meeting is taking place between the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health England and representatives of major sports to talk about the resumption of football, cricket, rugby and horse racing.
The Premier League must determine if it is viable, right and safe to play, but also how and when, with June 8 and 13 touted as possible dates.
It has become accepted that sport can only be played behind closed doors at the moment but there are questions if all 20 Premier League grounds can be suitably sanitised to be deemed safe and if not, whether neutral venues such as Wembley or St George’s Park, are used.
It could bring complaints about the loss of home advantage. Aston Villa were due to have six home games remaining while some clubs, including Manchester City, Brighton, Tottenham and Watford, have made their facilities available to the National Health Service, in the meantime.
The Premier League will have to consider what emergency services want, with the police suggesting neutral venues. One concern, if clubs used their own grounds, would be that fans could congregate outside them, creating a health risk near the stadium, even if it is safe within it.
Football was halted when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and clubs are likely to seek reassurances over the safety of players and staff.
The British government’s continued glaring failure to get the number of tests required raises questions if there will be enough and if footballers are getting them, it is at the expense of key workers.
However, they could have official support. Unlike in France, where the government has announced that no large sporting events will be allowed before September, even behind closed doors, Boris Johnson’s administration has come out in favour of sport returning.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Monday he had been in talks to get Premier League football back “as soon as possible”.
The underlying economic issues remain the same. The Premier League unveiled a bleak financial outlook if the season is not finished, with a potential cost of £1.137 billion (Dh5.2bn) , including refunds of £750 million to broadcasters.
Completing the campaign behind closed doors would still cost a minimum of £200 million, but would limit losses.
If the fixture list is not finished, there is no remotely satisfactory way to resolve issues like promotion, relegation and Champions and Europa League qualification.
Meanwhile, Uefa has ruled that seasons must be finished by July 31 in order for the 2020-21 campaign to begin.
Clubs will have other logistical complications. Many players have returned to their home countries and could be quarantined for 14 days when they come back to the United Kingdom.
Tottenham's Heung-Min Son, Chelsea's Willian and Manchester City's Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva are among those currently abroad, with the South Korean doing military service.
So far, some Arsenal, Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham players are training individually at their grounds but social distancing guidelines would need to be relaxed for full contact training to resume.
The game could be temporarily different. Rules might be changed. Fifa have suggested permitting five substitutes per team and giving a mandatory yellow card for spitting on the ground.
Precedents from abroad are likely to be on the agenda. The French, Dutch, Belgian and Scottish seasons will not resume this season. In Italy, FA president Gabriele Gravina wants Serie A to return but sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora cast doubt on that.
Uefa’s medical chief Tim Meyer said it is “definitely possible” to restart the 2019-20 season and the German Bundesliga had been planning to resume on May 9 with a maximum of 332 people at a game, amid warnings a third of clubs could face bankruptcy if the season is not completed.
But that date could be pushed back with the possibility that more lockdown measures will be imposed in Germany after a fresh spike in coronavirus cases.
That would put the spotlight back on the Premier League, and Project Restart could fade into the background.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
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
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
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Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
