Q: How on earth did Tottenham Hotspur think sacking Ange Postecoglou is the correct decision?
@Zee107
A: I wish I could say I was surprised – sacked just 16 days after ending a 41-year European trophy drought! It was a unanimous decision by the Tottenham board, who felt the coach ought to have better managed the side across all competitions. Finishing 17th in the Premier League with 22 losses – a record in a 38-game season – was seen as a dismal return given the quality of the squad. It’s taken a toll on the club’s finances, too.
At times, there was an unwillingness on Postecoglou's part to adjust his tactics. Antonio Conte at Napoli had to cope with so many absences and yet he constantly changed formations and tactics to achieve points. I understand the comparison isn’t entirely fair given the differences between the two leagues, but the drop in defensive solidity and the disjointed attack was, at times, painfully difficult to watch.
In defence of Postecoglou, I understand the decision to prioritise the Europa League. A trophy was what the fans coveted and a change in mentality was required. Winning begets winning and it reinforces confidence. There was genuine hope that after winning the Europa League, the players could push on and, with the right investments, aim for much more next season.
Winning a trophy ought to result in more time to build something, but the Spurs board obviously felt differently.
Q: Should there be a cap on salaries in football or sport?
@Davidson.dom via Instagram
A: Many American sports, like the NFL and NBA, already have salary caps in place to preserve competitiveness and unpredictability. Similarly, Formula One has introduced a budget cap to limit how much each team can spend on car development.
Salaries in football are out of control, and the money spent on agents and third parties is shameful. At its core, football is a working-class sport. Yet despite the explosion in revenue, fans are increasingly being priced out.
While rising ticket costs aren’t solely the result of inflated player salaries, the game has undeniably drifted out of touch with the very people who made it what it is. Today, many can barely afford to watch their local club – an indictment of a sport losing touch with its roots.
In 2020, a study found that the total wage bill for Premier League clubs in 2018/19 was just over £3 billion. By the start of the 2020/21 season, wages had increased by 2,811%. According to The Swiss Ramble, Premier League wages hit an all-time high of £4 billion during the 2023/24 season.
Taking the Uefa Champions League final as an example, Paris Saint-Germain were commended for finally building a team that was ‘without a star’ and yet they still spent €600 million in two years to build that squad. The total gross salaries paid for the 2024/25 season was around €196 million or €3.7m per week, not including bonuses. Ousmane Dembele is on roughly €346,000 a week, according to reports.
A salary cap would ensure smaller clubs are innovative and well managed. If clubs are not so obsessed with buying the best players perhaps they would pay more attention to developing home-grown talents.
However, the argument against, in Europe at least, is that a strict salary cap could violate EU Labour laws. Players have the right to negotiate in a free market. You could also argue that if salary caps are to be introduced, they must be applied globally to ensure true parity.
American sports can enforce such rules because they are largely confined to one country. Football, however, is a global game – which makes enforcement more complex. Still, it’s a challenge worth exploring.
Q: Is Jobe Bellingham the next Jude Bellingham?
@banabbou via Instagram
A: Borussia Dortmund certainly think he’s got great potential. The German club that once was home to his brother, Jude, has now agreed a deal with Sunderland for Jobe.
Dortmund's opening gambit of €20m was quickly rebuffed, forcing the German club to come back with an improved €33m bid, which was accepted. If the various add-ons are triggered, Jobe will become BVB's record signing.
The fact they raised their bid so significantly suggests their complete faith in his abilities and potential. Tall, tough, and tidy on the ball, Jobe can slot into just about any midfield role. He wins duels like it’s a hobby, carries the ball with confidence, and knows how to pick a smart pass. He’s got that “Swiss army knife” energy in midfield.
But at only age 19, he’s still developing. He can lose his positioning at times, and his performances aren’t always consistent. But he’s young, and with more game time and experience, those areas should naturally improve.
Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti once joked with Jude that they bought the wrong Bellingham. Hopefully Borussia Dortmund will give him the platform to keep growing as a player.
Q: Are you a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo? Just won the Nations League and still the best?
@Edil_Antonio via Instagram
A: Who isn’t a fan of the best players in the world? There is constant criticism aimed at the player deemed too old and selfish to still be playing international football. Some concerns are valid, especially the ones suggesting that his presence stops the team from aggressively closing down opponents. However, against Spain, Portugal showed that they can control the best team in Europe, and Ronaldo was their leader.
Personally, I’m a fan and still watch Portugal to see how he fares. There is this beautiful image from their previous match against Germany. Francisco Conceicao scored the first goal and Ronaldo got the second. Go back and watch how Conceicao hugged him, clinging to him. It was such a powerful image as it demonstrated how deeply respected Ronaldo is by his teammates. His mentality, his important goals and his efficacy still make the difference.
Of course, we all want to look to youth, to help nurture the next generation, but you can never underestimate experience and leadership.
The team should not be building around him for the World Cup next year only because he is unlikely to feature in every game. But what Ronaldo brings to the team is infinitely greater than what he takes away.
Q: Should Nuno Mendes not be one of the favourites for the Ballon d’Or? Best full-back?
HabuNahl via X
A: What an incredible season for Mendes. I was aggrieved that Achraf Hakimi was not generating enough Ballon d’Or buzz, considering his performances for PSG and Morocco, but I was wrong not to mention Mendes as he ought be one of the favourites for the award.
Man of the match in the Uefa Nations League final for Portugal against Spain, he not only shut down Lamine Yamal but he scored the opener and delivered the assist for Ronaldo’s equaliser. His year just keeps getting better.
PSG won the Uefa Champions League largely because they boasted the two best full-backs in the world. Mendes was incredible in the big games. He outpowered Mohamed Salah against Liverpool in the last 16, quietened Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in the semi-final and was imperious against Inter in the final.
Tactically astute, dominant when pressing opponents, and technically superb, he dazzles with his ability to glide past defenders and manoeuvre in tight spaces.
Mendes is modest, too. When asked about the Ballon d'Or, he nominated teammate Dembele.
Both for club and country, Mendes has proved clutch on all the big occasions. He is without a doubt, the best left-back in the world.
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat
Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.
The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.
The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.
The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
