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GEORGIA TEAM'S UEFA CUP QUALIFIER CANCELLED AMID HOSTILITIES
The Canadian Press
August 12, 2008
Switzerland
NYON, Switzerland -- The soccer qualifying match between Georgian
club WIT and Austria Vienna was cancelled Tuesday because of safety
concerns following recent air and land attacks by Russia.
UEFA said the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in the capital city of Tbilisi
was too dangerous for Thursday's UEFA Cup qualifying match amid
hostilities between Russia and Georgia.
The two-match qualifying event will be shortened to one and played
in Vienna on Aug. 28.
Earlier Tuesday, UEFA had said the match would be moved to Rize,
Turkey. But that plan fell through when the Georgian Football
Federation - also speaking on behalf of WIT - announced the squad
could not travel due to security concerns.
"(WIT is) not in a position to organize a safe and secure venue in
Georgia, nor to play at an alternative venue," European soccer's
governing body said in a statement.
The decision ends two days of international soccer diplomacy to
find a way for WIT Georiga to play. It failed in efforts to play in
neighbouring Armenia or Azerbaijan.
UEFA did not say how it would deal with a draw, which normally is
decided by the away-goal tiebreaker.
"UEFA will contact the clubs and national associations concerned in
due time to communicate the rules applicable to this single match,"
it said.
WIT is the last club from Georgia remaining in UEFA-organized
competitions this season. Champion Dinamo Tbilisi was knocked out of
the Champions League last week by Greek side Panathinaikos.
Dinamo's German coach Rainer Zobel and six foreign players left
Georgia earlier this week to seek safety in Germany.
The Canadian Press
August 12, 2008
Switzerland
NYON, Switzerland -- The soccer qualifying match between Georgian
club WIT and Austria Vienna was cancelled Tuesday because of safety
concerns following recent air and land attacks by Russia.
UEFA said the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in the capital city of Tbilisi
was too dangerous for Thursday's UEFA Cup qualifying match amid
hostilities between Russia and Georgia.
The two-match qualifying event will be shortened to one and played
in Vienna on Aug. 28.
Earlier Tuesday, UEFA had said the match would be moved to Rize,
Turkey. But that plan fell through when the Georgian Football
Federation - also speaking on behalf of WIT - announced the squad
could not travel due to security concerns.
"(WIT is) not in a position to organize a safe and secure venue in
Georgia, nor to play at an alternative venue," European soccer's
governing body said in a statement.
The decision ends two days of international soccer diplomacy to
find a way for WIT Georiga to play. It failed in efforts to play in
neighbouring Armenia or Azerbaijan.
UEFA did not say how it would deal with a draw, which normally is
decided by the away-goal tiebreaker.
"UEFA will contact the clubs and national associations concerned in
due time to communicate the rules applicable to this single match,"
it said.
WIT is the last club from Georgia remaining in UEFA-organized
competitions this season. Champion Dinamo Tbilisi was knocked out of
the Champions League last week by Greek side Panathinaikos.
Dinamo's German coach Rainer Zobel and six foreign players left
Georgia earlier this week to seek safety in Germany.