Referees' chief Mike Riley said that video technology "should be introduced to English football to help referees avoid errors" after EPL side West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley was sent off in a case of mistaken identity on Saturday. McAuley was shown the red card after 90 seconds against Man City "when referee Neil Swarbrick failed to identify Craig Dawson as the culprit in bringing down Wilfried Bony when he was through on goal." Riley, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd., said, "We need to see what technology we can use to help get referees' decisions more accurate" (REUTERS, 3/22). ... German engineering and services firm Bilfinger "is investigating whether employees of a subsidiary paid bribes to public officials in Brazil in connection with orders related to the World Cup." Bilfinger said in a statement on Sunday that "it had launched the investigation last year in connection with orders" for about €6M ($6.5M) worth of large screens for security control centers in several large cities in Brazil (REUTERS, 3/22). ... Argentina coach Gerardo Martino "complained about the scheduling of the European Champions League final," which could involve a number of his players five days before the Copa America kicks off in Chile. The Champions League final in Berlin is scheduled for June 6 and a large number of South American internationals "play for the eight clubs that have reached the quarter-finals." Martino said, "We need to have the players from the first day and they are very keen to take part in the Copa America but they are also going to want to play the Champions League final after preparing all year" (REUTERS, 3/20).
