SPORTS AGENDA: Arsenal exec has form for snubbing Man City, Alexander Ceferin’s salary fuels his commitment to UEFA… and EFL cyber attack claims another victim

Tim Lewis’s apparently-petulant storming out of the directors’ box at the Etihad Stadium is not the first time he has raised eyebrows in Manchester with a hasty departure.

After John Stones dramatically rescued a point for City in the title showdown earlier this month the Arsenal executive was spotted shunning the traditional handshakes and heading straight for the exit.

Last month, Agenda has been told that it did not go unnoticed when Lewis and the Gunners’ delegation departed the PFA Awards in Manchester before City’s Phil Foden was presented with his Footballer of the Year award, leaving a number of noticeably empty seats at the city’s Opera House in their wake. 

Some wondered if the early dart was entirely necessary, given others from London clubs, including the West Ham delegation and Chelsea‘s Cole Palmer, stayed until the end of the event.

Arsenal insiders, however, say that the group had to leave early to catch the only available flight back to the capital and that they chose a moment of minimal disruption, when the crowd was ordered to get to its feet and dance by one of the evening’s entertainers, rapper Aitch.

Tim Lewis’s apparently-petulant storming out of the directors’ box at the Etihad Stadium is not the first time he has raised eyebrows in Manchester with a hasty departure

Their point, which fell on deaf ears, was that this would be the fifth presser dominated by the City game and that it was time to move on.

Meanwhile, with the rivalry simmering, reporters at the Emirates for Saturday’s match with Leicester City were advised ahead of the game by an Arsenal official not to ask questions about City in Mikel Arteta‘s post-match press conference.

Front runner for Old Trafford revamp

As Mail Sport revealed, Lord Norman Foster’s globally-renowned design firm appears to be the frontrunner should Manchester United revamp Old Trafford or build a new, state-of-the-art stadium within their existing footprint. 

Mancunian Foster’s Foster + Partners are overseeing the upgrade at Carrington and the project to transform the huge swathes of land around the club’s famous home. 

Interesting, then, that they have recently posted a job advertisement for architects who specialise in ‘venue’. Successful candidates will have previous experience in stadia projects and have been asked to send in portfolios ‘specifically focused on venue design’.

Lord Norman Foster’s globally-renowned design firm appears to be the frontrunner should  United revamp Old Trafford or build a new, state-of-the-art stadium within their footprint

The PFA launch post-graduate diploma 

The Professional Footballers’ Association launched a post-graduate diploma in football business management which, according to its website, ‘covers complex and technical subjects’. Accuracy, however, may not be one the £5,900 per year course’s stronger areas.

Literature posted online last week featured Manchester City’s chief football operations officer Omar ‘Berreda’ among those who spoke on the diploma. Presumably, they meant Manchester United’s chief executive Omar Berrada, who crossed the city in the summer.

The PFA launched a post-graduate diploma in football business management which, according to its website, ‘covers complex and technical subjects’

EFL cancel quarterly meeting 

With no agreement on a New Deal for football in sight, the EFL cancelled its quarterly meeting at which clubs were due to discuss matters last Thursday. 

Clubs have been updated on what the latest picture is, including the Football Governance Bill, via meetings with the board in the last fortnight.

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin is keen to stay 

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin may well be keen on extending his stay as UEFA president beyond three terms. 

Thirty-five of 55 associations have written to the governing body requesting the Slovenian to remain in post in what would be a hugely questionable and controversial move. 

Updates to UEFA’s financial report show that, thanks to regular annual rises, Ceferin’s salary has almost doubled from £1.39m in 2017 to £2.56m in 2022-23. Nice work if you can get it.

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin may well be keen on extending his stay as UEFA president beyond three terms

Latest cyber attack victim

Last week, Mail Sport revealed how the EFL had warned its clubs to be on alert after a series of cyber attacks, with Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City and Charlton among those targeted. 

League Two Harrogate Town have become the latest victims, with clubs told to be wary of emails sent by the Yorkshire side’s finance manager Ashley Miles in a fresh alert sent out on Thursday.

Highly-rated Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg was given an unusual reward for his player of the match performance in the Mackems’ recent win over Middlesbrough

Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg’s unusual reward

Highly-rated Sunderland starlet Chris Rigg was given an unusual reward for his player of the match performance in the Mackems’ recent win over Middlesbrough. 

The 17-year-old was handed chocolates for his player of the match performance instead of the normal champagne – as the England Under 18 captain is under the legal age for drinking alcohol.