A study by StubHub revealed that Mexico is the country with the third-greatest demand for tickets for the Real Madrid-Barcelona Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 23. For this year's game, Mexico trails only the U.S. and Canada among foreign countries (LA AFICIÓN, 4/11).
La Liga side Sevilla put the Argentine FA on notice that "they are not allowed to approach" Sevilla Manager Jorge Sampaoli about the national team vacancy. AFA President Claudio Tapia said that Sampaoli is the "main candidate to replace Edgardo Bauza," who was dismissed as coach this week after eight months in charge. Tapia also said that he was going to meet Sampaoli this weekend in Valencia. A Sevilla statement read, "Sevilla would consider it unacceptable and a lack of respect [if there was] any meeting or contact destined to make the coach breach his contract with the club and hence it would no doubt defend its rights" (ESPN.com, 4/12).
Serie A side Genoa defender Armando Izzo has been "banned from football for 18 months in a match-fixing scandal." Izzo, 25, was given the suspension and a €50,000 ($53,000) fine for "failing to report match-fixing" during his time at lower-league club Avellino. The Italian Football Federation's prosecutor asked for a ban of six years, but the charge of match-fixing was downgraded (AP, 4/12).
The English Football League confirmed goalline technology will be used at this season's League Championship playoff semifinals, after proposals for its use next season in the League Championship were confirmed at the EGM on April 6. Originally scheduled for ratification at June's AGM, proposals were brought forward to provide sufficient time to install the required technical infrastructure (EFL).
