Fans in Hong Kong could face the highest ticket price ever -- HK$1,800 ($232) -- to watch World Cup finalists Argentina on Oct. 14, but organizers "are still confident of a sell-out to cover the extraordinary costs of hosting Lionel Messi & company." A source close to the Hong Kong FA said, "The final ticket price structure is not yet confirmed but we may need to set the highest ticket price at HK$1,800, which is going to be the most expensive ever for a match in Hong Kong." The cost "is expected to be nearly" HK$30M ($3.8M) (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 8/1). ... Real Madrid has spent the preseason in the U.S. for the last five summers. The decision has "already been made to return to China next year." Real has not played in Asia since '10, when it played in Guangzhou and Tianjin prior to its "tour of the United States." The trip to Asia is "part of an agreement" with Int'l Champions Cup organizer Relevent Sports (MARCA, 8/3). ... Italian side Juve Stabia has "lodged an appeal to be let back into Serie B, as the season starts on August 29, but there are only 21 clubs." After Siena went into liquidation this summer, the league "is left with only 21 out of 22 teams competing." Reggina and Novara hope to be recalled, but now Juve Stabia is "lodging a formal appeal to be brought back into Serie B" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 8/3). ... Russia accepted transfer requests from three Crimean football teams from Ukrainian leagues to be administered by the Russian Football Union, "adding insult to injury to the Crimean secession from Ukraine earlier this year." Incorporating the teams "could put pressure on relations between Russia" and FIFA. The three clubs -- SC Tavriya Simferopol, SKChF Sevastopol and
Zhemchuzhina Yalta -- "withdrew their affiliations with Ukrainian
authorities and applied for Russian licenses." Simferopol and Sevastopol "were a part of the Ukrainian Premier League, the highest league in the
country" (INT'L BUSINESS TIMES, 8/1).
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