La Liga side Getafe had a crowd of "only 12,000" at its 17,393-capacity Coliseum Alfonso Pérez for Sunday's 3-0 loss to Real Madrid. The "excuse -- which is no reason" -- for the game being played at noon local time was "once again so that it could be seen on TV in China." But what fans saw, "in addition to Real's convincing victory, was a lot of empty seats, which is not good publicity for La Liga." Getafe's average crowd for home games "barely exceeds 6,000," the lowest mark in La Liga (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 1/19). ... Leading officials with the Cyprus Referees' Association were meeting on Monday to "consider a walkout in response to a midnight bomb attack at the home of a referee's mother." CRA Chair Michalis Argyrou said that one option is to "stop officiating matches because referees are fed up following the third bomb attack this season" (AP, 1/19). ... EPL side Queens Park Rangers Chair Tony Fernandes said that Harry Redknapp will remain as manager. QPR is second from bottom in the top flight and "Redknapp's position had been thought to be under threat." Fernandes said in a statement, "I thought it was time to end all the speculation, so everyone can focus on the challenge ahead. I firmly believe Harry is the best man to get us out of the position we currently find ourselves in" (BBC, 1/19).
