ches suspected of being fixed.ddddddddddddHe also said that he regretted allowing a team suspected of being involved in match-fixing to be eleva

Valencia have approached Rafael Benitez about replacing Gary Neville at the Mestalla, according to Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. Neville has come in for intense scrutiny this week after his Valencia side suffered a 7-0 defeat in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Barcelona.The pressure on Neville, though, was beginning to mount before Wednesdays humbling at the Camp Nou, with the former Manchester United defender still without a league win after eight attempts. Benitez, who won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup during a successful three-year spell with Valencia, has been out of work since he was replaced by Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid in January.Having already managed in La Liga this season, Benitez would have to wait until the summer under league rules that prevent a manager taking charge of two clubs in the same campaign.Speaking in his weekly Q&A session, Balague confirmed Los Che had made contact with Benitez about replacing Neville, although, at this stage, the Spaniard has not made a decision.Valencias new director of football, Garcia Pitarch, has contacted Rafa, Balague said. He did not commit, though. Guillem Balague feels Gary Neville has lost the players and the fans after Valencias latest defeat But the story was leaked to appease fans who think Rafa would be ideal.One problem with that possibility is that Valencia owner Peter Lim is friends with Jorge Mendes, the super-agent who built the side. Mendes is also Jose Mourinhos agent, and we all know the relationship Jose and Rafa had.Valencia find themselves in a precarious position in the Primera Division, languishing in 12th place, just five points clear of the relegation zone. Guillem Balague feels Gary Neville has lost the players and the fans after Valencias latest defeat Neville has been consistently backed by the clubs owners who assure he will be allowed to see the job through to the end of the season.However, with the club on the brink of being sucked into a fight for survival, Balague believes Neville is facing a potentially defining period of tenure.Avoiding relegation is now the target, which is a world away from the original one of becoming top four, Balague added. Gary Neville has called questions over his position as Valencia manager ridiculous, despite losing at home to relegation threatened Sporting Gijon The club is now looking over its shoulder, five points away bottom three and with Real Betis next.Gary has got the backing of the owner at the moment but a defeat against Betis would mean that fans and media will demand, or continue to demand, his head.Watch Real Betis v Valencia live on Sunday, 2.55pm, Sky Sports 2 HD Also See: Balague Q&A recap Balagues Neville verdict Barca hit Valencia for seven Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Discount MLB Jerseys . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. 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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Cyprus Football Association is vowing to impose severe penalties on clubs suspected of match-fixing after UEFA ranked the countrys championship to be among the worst offenders in Europe.Marios Lefkaritis, the associations honorary president and a UEFA vice president, said that he was ashamed and shocked when told by UEFA of the problems extent.He said UEFA suspects six first-division matches and a domestic cup match may have been fixed since September. The Cyprus FA has received files on 75 matches suspected of being fixed since 2011, Lefkaritis said.Were among the top three or four countries that have the most matches suspected of being fixed, Lefkaritis told The Associated Press. It ceases to be a suspicion and becomes extremely worrying when you have a file sent to you about a suspected fixed match almost every week.Lefkaritis said most of the betting on the matches under suspicion has taken place in Asia. He believes that only those participating in the match can determine its outcome.The people who do the job are the players and the referees, who else? No one else can do this, Lefkaritis said.Cyprus FA president Costakis Koutsokoumnis was quoted by state-run radio as saying thatt hes aware of one player who has been implicated in nine matches suspected of being fixed.ddddddddddddHe also said that he regretted allowing a team suspected of being involved in match-fixing to be elevated to the first division this year.In an ad hoc general assembly meeting on Monday, the Cyprus FA said penalties would mirror those recommended by UEFA. They could include an initial heavy fine for a suspected first offense, followed by a point loss for a second and relegation for a third.Teams suspected of match-fixing a fourth time would incur a lengthy ban. Cyprus FA board members will agree on the specifics at their next meeting.We have to act right away, Koutsokoumnis told the assembly. Weve reached the tipping point. Soon well have neither sponsors, fans or even a championship.Cyprus football has been dogged by corruption allegations in recent years. Moreover, several bomb attacks against referees cars and properties have occurred.Cyprus justice minister, Ionas Nicolaou, said legislation is in the pipeline that will help police investigators prosecute match-fixing cases. ' ' '