UAE football clubs allowed to cut players’ salaries by up to 40%

Al-Wahda’s midfielder Mohammed Abdulbasit, center left, is marked by Al-Ittihad midfielder Khaled Al-Sumairi, center right, during a match in this March 11, 2019 file photo. (AFP)
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Updated 13 April 2020
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UAE football clubs allowed to cut players’ salaries by up to 40%

DUBAI: Football clubs in the UAE given the go signal to temporarily cut, up to a maximum 40 percent, the monthly salaries of their players and coaches due to the shortened professional tournament season.

The proposal to reduce the monthly wages of players, provided they shall not be less than Dh15,000 after the deductions, was announced by Mohamed Abdullah Hazzam Al-Dhaheri, the Secretary-General of the UAE Football Association, during a virtual board meeting presided by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al-Nuaimi, who is the group’s chairman.

The salaries of players and coaches in the First Division league, the second tier of the Emirati football after the UAE Pro League – also known as the Arabian Gulf League, are also affected with clubs also allowed to deduct a maximum of 40 percent provided the adjusted wages were not lower than Dh10,000.

The football association likewise extended all player contracts and moved transfer windows to allow the season on hold due to coronavirus to be completed.

This allows players’ expiring contracts to be extended beyond the end of June, in conformity with FIFA’s new guidelines, a report from state news agency WAM said.

Transfer deals due to be completed this summer will be delayed until the next season actually does start, it added.

The health comes first and foremost and that the safety of players and community members is always the most important, Al-Nuaimi said during the meeting, where they also decided to hold a follow-up meeting to elaborate the association’s decisions to club representatives.


Real Madrid lose second straight and miss chance to close gap on Liga leader Barcelona

Updated 03 March 2026
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Real Madrid lose second straight and miss chance to close gap on Liga leader Barcelona

  • Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga

MADRID: Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martín Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday.
The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona.
Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind.
Soria turned over a shot from Arda Güler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal.
Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead.
A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out.
It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window.
Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half and Antonio Rüdiger and substitute Rodrygo were among those who came close to grabbing an equalizer.
But it could not find a way past Getafe’s stuffy rearguard and an in-form Soria.
Madrid’s task became even harder when Franco Mastantuono was sent off for dissent in stoppage time and although the numbers were evened up in the last minute when Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also shown a red card it came too late to make any impact.
Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga.
“Coming here is always very difficult,” Getafe defender Kiko Femenía told broadcaster DAZN. “We have to congratulate the team, we did a superb job at the back and we scored when had the chance. We might even have scored more on the counterattack.”
They jumped three league places into 11th and were eight points above the relegation zone.