Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane says safety is paramount as the Premier Leagues looks to return next month. PA
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane says safety is paramount as the Premier Leagues looks to return next month. PA
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane says safety is paramount as the Premier Leagues looks to return next month. PA
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane says safety is paramount as the Premier Leagues looks to return next month. PA

Football

Tottenham striker Harry Kane wants assurances before Premier League returns

England captain says Liverpool deserve to be champions whichever way the season ends

The National

May 15, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Harry Kane says players are waiting for safety guidelines and assurances after the government said it was "opening the door" for the return of football next month.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said Thursday's meeting with the Football Association, Premier League and English Football League had "progressed plans for the resumption of the professional game in England".

The Premier League is looking to return to action on June 12, with matches played behind closed doors.

Tottenham striker Kane is willing to take the next step, moving from individual training to small group sessions, but said more information was needed.

"I don't think anyone knows the right answer at the moment," he told ITV's 'Good Morning Britain' programme.

"I think the majority of players are looking forward to playing again as soon as possible but we know we want it to be as safe as possible too.

"From what I have heard – obviously I haven't seen too much of my team-mates – at the moment everyone is OK. We want to see how the Premier League gives us a plan and what that looks like."

Kane confirmed that he, along with the rest of the Spurs squad, had taken initial tests for coronavirus, with no positive results following their return to training.

________________

Premier League top scorers

  • Harry Wilson, Bournemotuh, seven goals. Reuters
    Harry Wilson, Bournemotuh, seven goals. Reuters
  • Ayoze Perez, Leicester City, seven goals. EPA
    Ayoze Perez, Leicester City, seven goals. EPA
  • Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City, seven goals. EPA
    Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City, seven goals. EPA
  • Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal, seven goals. Reuters
    Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal, seven goals. Reuters
  • Sebastian Haller, West Ham United, seven goals. Reuters
    Sebastian Haller, West Ham United, seven goals. Reuters
  • Jack Grealish, Aston Villa, seven goals. EPA
    Jack Grealish, Aston Villa, seven goals. EPA
  • Callum Wilson, Bournemouth, eight goals. Reuters
    Callum Wilson, Bournemouth, eight goals. Reuters
  • Neal Maupay, Brighton & Hove Albion, eight goals. Reuters
    Neal Maupay, Brighton & Hove Albion, eight goals. Reuters
  • Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, eight goals. Reuters
    Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, eight goals. Reuters
  • Jordan Ayew, Crystal Palace, eight goals. Reuters
    Jordan Ayew, Crystal Palace, eight goals. Reuters
  • Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur, eight goals. Reuters
    Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur, eight goals. Reuters
  • Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, nine goals. Reuters
    Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, nine goals. Reuters
  • Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspur, nine goals. Reuters
    Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspur, nine goals. Reuters
  • Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, 10 goals. EPA
    Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, 10 goals. EPA
  • Richarlison, Everton, 10 goals. Reuters
    Richarlison, Everton, 10 goals. Reuters
  • Chris Wood, Burnley, 11 goals. AFP
    Chris Wood, Burnley, 11 goals. AFP
  • Raheem Sterling, Manchester City, 12 goals. EPA
    Raheem Sterling, Manchester City, 12 goals. EPA
  • Teemu Pukki, Norwich City, 11 goals. Reuters
    Teemu Pukki, Norwich City, 11 goals. Reuters
  • Anthony Martial, Manchester United, 11 goals. EPA
    Anthony Martial, Manchester United, 11 goals. EPA
  • Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, 11 goals. Reuters
    Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, 11 goals. Reuters
  • Raul Jimenez, Wolves, 13 goals. EPA
    Raul Jimenez, Wolves, 13 goals. EPA
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton, 13 goals. Reuters
    Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton, 13 goals. Reuters
  • Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, 13 goals. AFP
    Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, 13 goals. AFP
  • Marcus Rashford, Manchester United, 14 goals. PA
    Marcus Rashford, Manchester United, 14 goals. PA
  • Sadio Mane, Liverpool, 14 goals. Reuters
    Sadio Mane, Liverpool, 14 goals. Reuters
  • Danny Ings, Southampton, 15 goals. Reuters
    Danny Ings, Southampton, 15 goals. Reuters
  • Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 16 goals. EPA
    Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 16 goals. EPA
  • Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, 16 goals. Reuters
    Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, 16 goals. Reuters
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal, 17 goals. Reuters
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal, 17 goals. Reuters
  • Jamie Vardy, Leicester City, 19 goals. AFP
    Jamie Vardy, Leicester City, 19 goals. AFP

________________

"About a week ago we started going to the training ground, we were allowed to have one-on-one training with one member of staff on one pitch, self-distancing from everyone," he said.

"We had tests on Monday, all the players and staff had tests, and everyone came back negative, which was great."

Meanwhile, Kane said Liverpool's 25-point lead would make them worthy champions however the 2019/20 campaign ends, with the absence of their fans from the conclusion to the season a necessary evil because of the pandemic.

"Liverpool deserve to lift the title and with their fans missing it will be a strange situation. But we've not been through a time like this in our lifetimes," he said.

"I guess if we want to finish the season then we are going to have to do that."

RESULT

Deportivo La Coruna 2 Barcelona 4
Deportivo: Perez (39'), Colak (63')
Barcelona: Coutinho (6'), Messi (37', 81', 84')

Match info

Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')

Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

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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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