SPORTS AGENDA: Sky hide Everton plane protest, Man City guide execs to their recent trophy haul, and Saudi officials lower PPV prices for the ‘Day of Reckoning’

Viewers of Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool on Sky Sports were not shown pictures of the plane that flew over the Etihad carrying a message protesting against Everton’s 10-point penalty for breaching financial rules. 

The banner read ‘Premier League — corrupt’ and was organised by a Toffees fan group. 

Some have wondered if Sky were doing their utmost not to upset League bosses at a pivotal time with a decision on broadcast rights imminent. 

Sky, however, say that they did not show the plane protest as they did not think it relevant to the match being shown and add that they subsequently covered it in news stories.

Executives arriving for Man City versus Liverpool were treated to the hosts’ Treble trophies

Execs at Man City treated to the sight of their Treble trophies 

Those in the chairman’s suite at the Etihad this weekend may have wondered if Manchester City were trying to make a subtle point to their guests from Merseyside.

Visiting directors to Anfield are often seated close to a display of Liverpool’s six European Cup trophies. 

When execs arrived for Saturday’s match, they were treated to the sight of the three trophies City lifted in last season’s Treble campaign, plus the UEFA Super Cup that City won in August.

Long-term commercial director leaves Spurs for Brentford 

The revolving door at Tottenham’s commercial department since the arrival of American Todd Kline continues to turn.

Long-serving commercial director Fran Jones has joined Brentford in what is being viewed as a huge loss for the club, with turnover since Kline arrived as chief commercial officer in 2021 described as ‘astonishing’. 

Meanwhile, Spurs are still to find a stadium naming rights partner, viewed as Kline’s main objective when he joined.

Qatari officials hold high-level meetings with Olympic officials 

A year on from their hosting of the World Cup, Qatar’s ambitions to stage the 2036 Olympics show no sign of abating.

Agenda understands there were high-level meetings last week between the IOC and Qatari officials, including several Royal Family members. The IOC’s eyes remain firmly set on India for 2036. 

Kevin Sinfield says he will listen to Bruce Springsteen while attempting seven ultramarathons

Kevin Sinfield Born to Run seven ultramarathons in seven days for MND sufferers

Kevin Sinfield will hit the roads again this week as he runs seven ultramarathons across seven UK cities in seven days. 

He will again raise funds for sufferers of Motor Neurone Disease, inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who has MND. 

Sinfield says he will listen to Bruce Springsteen as he pounds the streets. Born to Run, no doubt.

Newcastle’s Amanda Staveley exits through main entrance

Amanda Staveley has not made many missteps since orchestrating the Saudi takeover of Newcastle United.

However, it was interesting to note that while the more veteran attendees of the latest Premier League meeting made a sharp exit through the back door, Staveley made her way to the main entrance, where a number of journalists lay in wait. 

Insurance broker reveals the huge scale of the injury crisis

A new report from Howden, the insurance broker, has laid bare the scale of football’s injury crisis and the huge demands being placed on elite players by administrators. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be interested to read that Manchester United were joint-top of the Premier League for number of injuries last season with 69, at a chart-topping cost of £33.75million.

Saudi officials have reduced PPV prices for ‘Day of Reckoning’, headlined by Anthony Joshua

Saudi officials lower PPV prices for ‘Day of Reckoning’ in December

Saudi officials have intervened to lower the prices charged by pay-per-view platforms for next month’s ‘Day of Reckoning’ in Riyadh on December 23. 

Anthony Joshua will headline a night of boxing along with world champions Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia.

Bosses in the kingdom will charge $39.99 (£31.72) in the US and £19.99 in the UK in a bid to attract as many eyeballs as possible.