SPORTS AGENDA: Match officials put Brighton’s post-match meals in the book, England honour ex-boss Gareth Southgate and Hawk-Eye advertise ‘high-pressure’ VAR role on an eyebrow-raising salary

Brighton have been shown a yellow card by referees who have complained about the standard of post-match food at the Amex this season, which they say is the worst in the Premier League.

Last year refs made a series of requests, including a red card for sandwiches and fatty foods. 

They prefer protein — such as chicken, beef or fish — with vegetables and salad. 

However, sources have told Agenda that food has ‘fallen off a cliff’ this season, with officials aghast to find cold food in Tupperware boxes.

Other clubs provide hot meals with, in many instances, officials dished up the same food that is given to players.

Match officials claim the food provided at the Amex is the worst in the Premier League

England’s pay homage to Southgate

Gareth Southgate may no longer be England manager but there is now a permanent reminder of his spell in charge of the Three Lions at St George’s Park. 

Officials have added a picture of the 54-year-old to a wall that displays all those who have led the national team.

A picture of Gareth Southgate has been added to a wall featuring all former England bosses at St George’s Park

Hawk-Eye on the lookout for future VARs

How much would you want to be paid to become a VAR operator? 

Operators Hawk-Eye are on the look out for applicants to join their Stockley Park operation for a job which should come with a health warning. Indeed, the ad lists the ‘ability to work in a high-pressure, live broadcast environment’ among skills needed, along with ‘strong attentive listening skills, particularly under extreme pressure’.

One might imagine that the salary for the replay operator role, given the pitfalls it involves and the fact that much of that pressure comes from clubs participating in the richest league in the world, may reflect that. 

However, eyebrows have been raised at the apparently skinny offer of £25,800 per year.

PGMOL are advertising ‘high-pressure’ VAR role with a starting salary of just £25,800 per year

Warrington director left bruised following Super League clash

A Warrington director was left with a black eye after being punched during his side’s Super League defeat at Hull KR on Friday night. 

Officials are investigating the incident which happened in the main stand at Craven Park. 

Rovers won 10-8 to secure a trip to Old Trafford to face Wigan in Saturday’s Grand Final.

Lavender tasked with bringing Cheltenham to the modern era

Guy Lavender is leaving his chief executive role at MCC to take charge of Cheltenham Racecourse, with the instruction, it is believed, to bring it into the modern era. 

Yet leading trainer Kim Bailey was admonished for using his phone in the Lord’s Pavilion while his wife, Clare, was told she couldn’t enter because she was wearing the wrong footwear. 

Their son Archie was making his debut for Gloucestershire against Middlesex at the time with a few hundred present. 

Hardly a glowing endorsement for a modern era.

Guy Lavender is leaving his role at MCC to become the new CEO of Cheltenham Racecourse

Outspoken Thomson has his say

Jeff Thomson, who said in the mid-1970s that he liked to hit English batsmen, spoke to the Hampshire Cricket Society recently. 

The 74-year-old, who was over for the one-day matches between England and Australia, said Aussie keeper Alex Carey was in the wrong over Jonny Bairstow’s stumping at Lord’s last summer. 

He also called David Warner ‘a d***head’ and said he preferred London to Sydney as a city, to the surprise of an appreciative audience.