SPORTS AGENDA: Match officials book up Brighton’s post-match meals, England honor ex-boss Gareth Southgate and PGMOL advertises ‘high-pressure’ VAR role on 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 the referees made a series of requests, including a red card for sandwiches and fatty foods.

They prefer proteins – 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 left stunned to find cold food in Tupperware boxes.

Other clubs provide hot meals, with in many cases the referees serving the same food given to the players.

Referees have complained about the quality of post-match food available to them in Brighton

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

England pays tribute to Southgate

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

Officials added a photo of the 54-year-old to a wall that lists everyone who has managed the national team.

A photo of Gareth Southgate has been added to a wall of all the former England bosses in St George’s Park

PGMOL looking for future VARs

How much would you like to get paid to become a VAR operator?

Operators Hawk-Eye are looking for candidates at their Stockley Park branch for a job that requires a health alert. Indeed, the ad lists the “ability to work in a high-pressure live broadcast environment” as one of the skills needed, along with “strong attentive listening skills, especially under extreme pressure.”

You might imagine that the salary for the role of replay operator, given the pitfalls this entails and the fact that much of that pressure comes from clubs competing in the richest league in the world, could reflect.

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

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

Warrington director left bruised after Super League match

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

Officials are investigating the incident which took place in the Main Stand at Craven Park.

Rovers won 10-8 to secure a trip to Old Trafford where Wigan would play in the grand final on Saturday.

Lavender is tasked with bringing Cheltenham into the modern age

Guy Lavender is leaving his role as CEO at MCC to take charge of Cheltenham Racecourse, with a remit to bring it into the modern era.

Yet top trainer Kim Bailey was admonished for using his phone in the Lord’s Pavilion, while his wife Clare was told she was not allowed in because she was wearing the wrong footwear.

Their son Archie made his debut for Gloucestershire against Middlesex with a few hundred people in attendance.

Hardly a glowing endorsement for a modern era.

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

The outspoken Thomson has his say

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

The 74-year-old, who was on hand for the one-day matches between England and Australia, said Australian goalkeeper Alex Carey was wrong about Jonny Bairstow’s whining at Lord’s last summer.

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