Hannover players will train behind closed doors today on the first anniversary of the death of Robert Enke, their club captain and goalkeeper, the club said.
Mirko Slomka, the Hannover coach, said it would not be right to have cameras around his players on such an emotionally charged day.
Enke committed suicide by jumping in front of an express train on November 10, 2009 after years of battling depression. He was 32.
At the time he was Germany's first-choice keeper just months before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"It is not fitting that we are filmed on that day," Slomka told reporters yesterday. "We will train in peace and quiet in the stadium and of course we will be thinking of Robert. That is a given."
Enke's death sparked an outpouring of grief and sympathy across the country with his wife Teresa setting up a foundation in his name and dedicated to the research and treatment of depression.
Germany's football chief, Theo Zwanziger, and Joachim Loew, the national team coach, will lay a wreath at his grave today and the club has organised several other events for fans to remember Enke.
In Italy, Antonio Cassano is poised to miss Sampdoria's game at Parma tomorrow after Riccardo Garrone, the club president, said he would wait for the outcome of an imminent arbitration hearing before deciding what to do with the rebel striker.
The Italy forward has been suspended by the club and missed three games for swearing at Garrone after refusing to attend a club dinner. He has since apologised several times and Samp fans have called for the striker to be recalled.
"The situation has not changed," Garrone told reporters as he confirmed he would wait for arbitration to decide whether his suspension of Cassano was lawful.
Spain's Cope del Rey is down to the final 32 teams and Real Madrid face a second-leg match against third-tier Murcia tonight at the Bernabeu.
It is a game which brings back memories of last season's embarrassing defeat to Alcorcon, who were also in the Segunda B division. Real were thrashed 4-0 at the tiny Madrid club's 3,000-seat Municipal de Santo Domingo and lost 4-1 on aggregate.
This time, though, they have Jose Mourinho as coach and he is unbeaten so far since arriving in the summer. Murcia held Real 0-0 in the first leg two weeks ago.
"You never know when the day of the first defeat is going to come," Mourinho said after Sunday's 2-0 derby win over Atletico Madrid. "It's got to come someday, but we're not going to gift it."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United striker is moving back to his home country to coach top-flight club Molde.
The Norwegian, 37, United's reserve team coach, will begin his job in January. United signed him from Molde in 1996.
Solskjaer, a father of three and a fan favourite at Old Trafford who scored the winner in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 1999, said family reasons were the main factor in his decision to return to Norway after 14 years at United.
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
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
RACE CARD
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.
