TOP FLIGHT ON TERROR ALERT AFTER MASSACRE IN MOSCOW
THE Premier League have written to clubs warning them of the potential for a terror attack following the Moscow concert hall massacre of at least 144 people.
Clubs have been made aware of comments by Islamic State mouthpiece Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, who called on ‘lone wolves’ to target Christians and Jews across the US, Europe and Israel during Ramadan, which ends on April 9.
London clubs have been told to be on guard after the stabbing of Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati in Wimbledon, which is being investigated by counter-terrorism officers.
In a message sent on Saturday, top-flight clubs were urged to increase vigilance, report suspicious activity and brief staff. They were informed the Moscow attack was a ‘recent example of the large, complex attacks still taking place in the western world’. The message called for raised awareness over Easter ‘due to the vulnerability of crowds in bigger numbers’.
There is another full programme of Premier League fixtures between tomorrow and Thursday.
● UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin was championing the green credentials of this summer’s Euros in January, labelling them the ‘special Euros, very environmentally friendly, a sustainable Euros’. So imagine Agenda’s surprise to learn the Slovenian was spotted driving a £160,000 Aston Martin DBX, whose four-litre, V8 engine makes for a wallet-busting 19.73mpg and CO2 emissions that put it in the UK’s highest tax bracket for vehicles.
● A GLANCE at a glossy, promotional ‘manifesto’ issued by 777 Partners, whose Everton takeover appears to be nearing completion, does little to boost confidence that they will be the answer to the woes of long- suffering Toffees supporters. The briefing document, entitled Project Port, lists the clubs in which the American investment group holds a majority stake and describes historic Brazilian top-flight outfit Vasco da Gama, which it spells ‘Vasco De Gama’ as a Spanish third-tier side.
It also sets out ‘seven verticals’ in which the company have interests — then names six areas.
● GETTING round England’s base camp near Blankenhain at the Euros in Germany may prove to be an issue after it emerged the luxury, remote location is not served by Uber. There is said to be only one taxi in operation — and the driver is reserved for emergency trips to hospital.
● SOME good news for Red Bull F1 chief Christian Horner and wife Geri. The pair, in the headlines recently over an investigation that cleared Horner of wrongdoing, have swish stables for 14 horses at their Oxfordshire home and on Saturday enjoyed racing success when Lift Me Up, named after the former Spice Girl’s solo track, won a point-to-point at Kimblewick in Oxon. Ridden by Jack Andrews, the world’s tallest jockey at 6ft 4in, the distant relative of the great Denman now qualifies for next year’s Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham.
● BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL may be bankrupt but that is not going to stop the biggest convention in the Olympic world going ahead in the so-called Second City. SportAccord starts on Sunday and is being enthusiastically promoted — leaving Brummies wondering where the cash is coming from. Agenda understands the budget for SportAccord was ring-fenced last year for the West Midlands Growth Company to allocate — a wise move that looks set to pay off with a near sell-out predicted, including large delegations from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
● MUCH has rightly been made of the EFL’s mission to crack America, after their record-breaking US rights deal revealed by Mail Sport. But the timings of the final day in the Championship have not gone down well across the Pond. Fixtures for many EFL clubs kick off at 12.30pm — that’s 7.30am on America’s east coast and 4.30am on the west.