The FA ran into a sandstorm of criticism this week, after its chairman Greg Clarke made a goodwill visit to Qatar. An international pariah state, facing increasing isolation from its neighbours in the region, and criticism for its erosion of labour rights and poor treatment of minorities, this country is nonetheless keen to strengthen ties with its Middle Eastern counterpart.

So Clarke has despatched himself on the first flight to the Gulf, and by all accounts his attempt to build bridges in Qatar has gone a lot better for him than for most people who embark on construction projects in the country. Certainly, the broad beam of pride on Clarke’s face in the official photographs is that of a man having the time of his life, the kind he will be gushing about eagerly to friends and family in the coming weeks as he shows off his holiday snaps.

Perhaps Clarke has decided to give Qatar time off for good behaviour. And they have been nothing if not the model client: forking out for international TV rights to the FA Cup, even holding (ultimately inconclusive) discussions about Qatar Airways sponsoring the competition.

And while the precise terms of the “knowledge-sharing deal” between the two bodies remains unclear, if the Qatar Cup starts moving random ties to Monday nights for television coverage, we’ll know where they got the idea from.