• Manager Zinedine Zidane watches the final La Liga match of the season at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, in which Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1. EPA
    Manager Zinedine Zidane watches the final La Liga match of the season at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, in which Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1. EPA
  • Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric under pressure from Villarreal's Manu Trigueros. AP
    Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric under pressure from Villarreal's Manu Trigueros. AP
  • Luka Modric scores Real's second goal in their 2-1 win over Villarreal.
    Luka Modric scores Real's second goal in their 2-1 win over Villarreal.
  • Karim Benzema, right, scores for Real to make it 1-1. EPA
    Karim Benzema, right, scores for Real to make it 1-1. EPA
  • Real's Luka Modric and Daniel Parejo of Villarreal challenge for a header. AFP
    Real's Luka Modric and Daniel Parejo of Villarreal challenge for a header. AFP
  • Luka Modric celebrates scoring Real Madrid's injury-time winner. EPA
    Luka Modric celebrates scoring Real Madrid's injury-time winner. EPA
  • Karim Benzema scores for Real Madrid but the goal is ruled out by VAR. Getty
    Karim Benzema scores for Real Madrid but the goal is ruled out by VAR. Getty
  • Real Madrid's Luka Modric during the game.
    Real Madrid's Luka Modric during the game.
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema kisses the ball after scoring before the goal was disallowed. AFP
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema kisses the ball after scoring before the goal was disallowed. AFP
  • Dejected Real players after the match following the news that Atletico Madrid had won the La Liga title. EPA
    Dejected Real players after the match following the news that Atletico Madrid had won the La Liga title. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Marcelo after the match. AP
    Real Madrid's Marcelo after the match. AP
  • Dejected Real players after the match. AFP
    Dejected Real players after the match. AFP

Football

Zinedine Zidane resigns as Real Madrid manager - reports

Spanish giants failed to win a trophy for the first time in 11 seasons

AFP

May 27, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Zinedine Zidane has resigned as Real Madrid manager, according to reports, just days after the club were beaten to the La Liga title by Atletico Madrid.

The Frenchman's departure comes at the end of a disappointing campaign for the 13-time European champions, who also lost to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals as they failed to win a trophy for the first time in 11 seasons.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano broke what he called "exclusive" news in a tweet which was picked up by Spanish sports outlets including Madrid sports dailies Marca and AS, and the radio station Cadena Ser.

An official announcement of his departure, said Romano, would be made "in the next hours/days".

Only 10 days ago Zidane, who has a contract until 2022, denied media speculation that he had already told his players that he would be leaving at the end of the season.

"How am I going to tell my players that I am going now? It's a lie," he said after a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.

"I focus on this season. There is a game left and we are going to give everything. I only care what happens in this finale."

But, he added: "The rest, we will see at the end of the season."

If confirmed, it marks the end of Zidane's second spell in charge of the Spanish giants.

The 1998 World Cup winner first took the helm in January 2016 and guided Real to the 2017 La Liga title and an unprecedented hat-trick of Champions League titles before abruptly quitting on May 31, 2018.

He returned in 2019, winning a second La Liga crown in 2020 and the Spanish Super Cup.

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Match info

Uefa Nations League A Group 4

England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')

Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)

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

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 0

Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')

Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)

Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)