CROSS IT OFF

Real Madrid has agreed a long term strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi's International petroleum Company which will give the Spanish a huge financial advantage and help overhaul their ageing stadium. This investment includes museums, global football schools and the development of the Barnabeu. The amount is regarded to be as high as $630m and the deal is due to run until 2017. Planning permission has yet to be agreed but should it be granted, naming rites to the stadium may be bought by IPIC.

The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has asked Real Madrid to remove the small cross on it club badge so that its does not appear on the Bank's officially licensed credit cards. The logo is a replica of the famous Spanish club's 83 year old trademark, only with the slight adjustment so as not to offend its Muslim clients. The cross is significant of the club's link with the Spanish Royal family and was introduced in the 1920s when the club was given the title Royal (Real) by King Alfonso XIII. The cross had disappeared from the badge when the Spanish Civil war was running, but by 1941 it returned.

Recently, arguably the richest club in the world is valued at $3.5 billion and has entered into a strategic alliance with the banking giant. President of the Spanish club, Florentino Perez, stated that the removal of the cross would conquer the hearts of those followers in the UAE. Previously, in 2012, the club had links with the oil-rich Emirates financing a project involving the building of a sports' resort on Marjan Island in the UAE.

This latest decision does not hold well with those Christians observing the violations of international standards on religious freedom in the UAE.

Last year there was a 5 year shirt deal with the Dubai based Emirates airline worth $30million per season. Recently FC Barcelona broke a 113 year long tradition of having no corporate sponsors names or logos on the shirts, when they agreed terms with Qatar Airlines. Previously the club had the UNICEF charity on their playing kit. Etihad, of course, sponsor Manchester City and PSG and Arsenal have a deal with Fly Emirates.