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 appearance from the director’s box at the Etihad Stadium is not the first time he has raised eyebrows in Manchester with a hasty exit.

After John Stones dramatically rescued a point for City in the title race earlier this month, the Arsenal manager was spotted eschewing the traditional handshakes and heading straight for the exit.

Last month, Agenda was told it did not go unnoticed when Lewis and the Gunners’ delegation left the PFA Awards in Manchester before City’s Phil Foden collected the Footballer of the Year award, leaving a number of noticeably empty seats in the stadiums of the city. Opera House in their wake.

Some questioned whether the early dart was really necessary as others from London clubs, including the West Ham delegation and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, stayed until the end of the event.

However, Arsenal insiders say the group had to leave early to catch the only available flight back to the capital and chose a moment of minimal disruption, when the crowd was told to get up and dance at one of the evening events . entertainers, rapper Aitch.

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

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

Leader for the renewal of Old Trafford

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

Mancunian Foster + Partners are overseeing the upgrade at Carrington and the project to transform the vast areas of land surrounding the club’s famous home.

So it’s interesting that they recently posted a vacancy for architects who specialize in ‘location’. Successful candidates have previous experience with stadium projects and have been asked to submit portfolios ‘specifically focused on venue design’.

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

The PFA Launch Postgraduate Diploma

The Association of Professional Footballers has launched a postgraduate diploma in football business management which, according to its website, ‘covers complex and technical topics’. However, accuracy may not be one of the strongest points of the £5,900 per year course.

In the literature posted online last week, Manchester City Chief Football Operations Officer Omar ‘Berreda’ was among those to talk about the diploma. Presumably they meant Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada, who passed through the city in the summer.

The PFA launched a postgraduate diploma in football business management which, according to its website, ‘covers complex and technical topics’

EFL cancels quarterly meeting

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

Clubs have been kept informed of the latest state of affairs, including the Football Governance Bill, through meetings with the board over the past two weeks.

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin wants to stay

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin may be keen to extend his stay as UEFA president after three terms.

Thirty-five of the 55 associations have written to the governing body asking the Slovenian to remain in his post, which would be an extremely questionable and controversial move.

Updates to UEFA’s financial report show that Ceferin’s salary has almost doubled from £1.39 million in 2017 to £2.56 million in 2022-2023, thanks to regular annual increases. Nice job if you can get it.

No wonder Aleksander Ceferin may be keen to extend his stay as UEFA president after three terms

Latest victim of a cyber attack

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

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

Highly rated Sunderland star Chris Rigg received an unusual player of the match reward in the Mackems’ recent win over Middlesbrough

Sunderland star Chris Rigg’s unusual reward

Highly rated Sunderland star Chris Rigg received an unusual reward for his player of the match performance in the Mackems’ recent victory over Middlesbrough.

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