Dubai: The luck of the draw has given Emirates and Dubai a unique global promotional coup in the keenly-awaited Uefa Champions League clash between Hamburg S.V. and Arsenal.
Both teams are sponsored by Emirates and drawn in Group G of the contest's 32-team First Phase, but Uefa Champions League regulations forbid teams playing each other to wear the same sponsor's logo.
However, the rules allow the visiting team to wear advertising for a product of the sponsor.
And a special Uefa Administration sanction means that when the first-leg match kicks off in Hamburg tonight, millions of TV viewers around the world will see Hamburg S.V. play in their white Fly Emirates home shirts - and Arsenal in yellow away shirts advertising Dubai.
The use of Dubai's name as advertising on the shirts is believed to be unprecedented in the Champions League and other football leagues, where teams usually sport corporate logos.
The unique Dubai shirts will be seen for the first time when Arsenal captain Thierry Henry leads his team out at a packed Hamburg AOL Arena for the crucial encounter.
