SPORTS AGENDA: Michael Vaughan goes on the offensive at a charity event

Michael Vaughan goes on the offensive at a charity event, while Sky Sports risk angering fans by missing out on top Premier League games… and Emma Hayes rescues a stranded journalist – SPORTS AGENDA

  • Ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan made an appearance at a charity event 
  • Vaughan recently appeared at a disciplinary hearing over alleged racist remarks
  • Meanwhile, Sky have missed out on two of the Premier League’s biggest games 

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Michael Vaughan was quick on to the front foot when he appeared at a charity event in Blackpool last Friday.

Despite the ongoing situation with the Azeem Rafiq racism allegations, the former England captain honoured a commitment to take to the stage to raise money for a local primary school.

Vaughan opened up by telling the crowd: ‘I don’t want you lot in 14 years saying I have said something that I didn’t,’ immediately addressing what could have been an elephant in the room.

When ribbed about his Lancastrian roots, having lived in the county until the age of 10 before crossing the Pennines, Vaughan joked that — given his treatment by Yorkshire over the course of the Rafiq affair — he was comfortable being called a Lancastrian.

Earlier this month, Vaughan, 48, appeared at a disciplinary hearing at which he ‘completely and categorically’ denied an allegation from Rafiq that he made a racist remark in 2009.

Michael Vaughan attended a charity event in Blackpool last week after appearing at a disciplinary hearing for alleged racist remarks against ex-Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq

Michael Vaughan attended a charity event in Blackpool last week after appearing at a disciplinary hearing for alleged racist remarks against ex-Yorkshire team-mate Azeem Rafiq

Sky miss out on top Premier League games

Serious questions may be asked at Sky Sports over their Premier League match choices this season, with the broadcaster not screening arguably the two biggest remaining games of the campaign. 

Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool this Saturday will be on BT Sport, as will City’s crunch match with title rivals Arsenal on April 26. To make matters worse, City’s trip to Arsenal in February was shown on Amazon Prime. 

Sky may well face anger from their subscribers, who had to shell out for another price increase this year. 

Emma Hayes to the rescue for one lucky reporter

Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes impressed last week when, following the club’s Champions League fixture in Lyon, she heard that some members of the travelling press were struggling to get home amid strikes that had cancelled a number of flights. 

Hayes looked into whether there were any spaces on the club’s private jet which could be used following her side’s impressive 1-0 win. While there was only one slot free, it meant one reporter jetted back to the UK in relative luxury.

Emma Hayes rescued a journalist in the Chelsea private jet last week after strikes in Lyon

Emma Hayes rescued a journalist in the Chelsea private jet last week after strikes in Lyon 

ECA meeting set to ruffle some feathers

The European Club Association general assembly, which starts in Budapest on Monday, promises to be a lively affair. Relations between clubs and FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino will be present, have become increasingly strained.

ECA boss and Paris Saint-Germain chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has led negotiations and there is hope that the summit will see concessions from FIFA over issues including payments for releasing players for international duty, and a promise that the calendar cannot be changed without the consent of clubs. 

Weightlifting set to stay in for LA Olympics

While the decision whether to keep boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon on the LA28 Olympic programme is under the control of the IOC’s executive board, the call on whether to add new sports such as flag football (a non-contact version of American football), cricket, baseball, softball and lacrosse is almost solely in the hands of the LA28 organising committee.

The group is headed by Casey Wasserman, who also leads one of the world’s most eminent sports marketing and athlete management agencies — Wasserman Media.

With limits on budget and total athlete numbers, there is plenty of backroom trading going on ahead of the final vote at the IOC session in Mumbai in October.

Insiders tell Agenda that weightlifting is now looking more secure, while Wasserman is known to favour flag football. He is also keen for the IOC to include boxing despite major governance concerns.

With an eye on the lucrative Indian market, the IOC are pushing LA to include cricket — which would be tough for Wasserman as it could come at the expense of baseball and softball.

Weightlifting looks as if it will stay on as an Olympic sport for the 2028 games in Los Angeles

Weightlifting looks as if it will stay on as an Olympic sport for the 2028 games in Los Angeles

Ukraine fans 5-4 England fans

Last week, Sportsmail revealed the planned match between a group of England fans and their Italian counterparts in Naples had been targeted by an anonymous email, which threatened the arrival of 60 ultras should it go ahead. The game was postponed. 

There were, however, no such scenes when the same fans’ group took on a team of Ukraine supporters before Sunday’s Euro 2024 qualifier. The Prayer for Ukraine was said ahead of kick-off, before the country’s national anthem was belted out. 

The visitors triumphed 5-4 in a feisty match at Amersham Town which, at times, needed the experienced hand of former referee Jarnail Singh. 

Wigan sack CEO Mal Brannigan amid pay crisis

The crisis at Wigan Athletic — which saw players who were furious at not receiving their wages on time for a fifth time go on strike — has resulted in the end of the road for Mal Brannigan. Agenda readers may remember the outgoing chief executive as the man who asked if there was ‘anything we could do to keep this out of the paper’ on one of the previous occasions of late payment.

It is understood a review of the club’s finances uncovered a dramatic overspend under the watch of Brannigan, who was paid about £250,000 a year — two and a half times as much as the same role paid when the Championship side were in the Premier League.

It is understood that Wigan, who were hit with a three-point deduction, now need to find about £7million to see them through to the end of the season having finally paid players’ wages on Friday.

Everton’s new stadium edging closer 

While there has been plenty of unrest at Everton this season, work on the club’s impressive new stadium by the River Mersey continues apace. Yesterday saw the final pour of concrete on what is set to become an iconic landmark at Bramley-Moore Dock. 

It means that the physical structure of the stadium is now complete. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work has already commenced at the venue, which is due to open during the 2024-25 season with a capacity close to 53,000. 

Security scare at Elland Road

Dramatic scenes at Leeds United over the last few days. On Thursday night, police were informed of a ‘security threat’ to Elland Road and on Friday morning they ordered staff to leave while checks were carried out and they tried to establish whether the threat was credible.

A 20-year-old man was subsequently arrested, while staff —including execs — were finally allowed to return to the club’s buildings yesterday morning.

Agenda understands that the threat, made on social media, was to trigger a device at the stadium and that it was, indeed, found to be credible.

The post was spotted by a member of the public who immediately alerted police. Staff had to leave so quickly that many left behind belongings including house keys, purses and wallets. 

On Sunday, as a precaution following the police’s departure, Leeds’ own security team continued to carry out checks.

Elland Road was the centre of a security scare on Thursday that led to staff being evacuated

Elland Road was the centre of a security scare on Thursday that led to staff being evacuated

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