Soccer

Karlsruhe unwilling to host Georgia qualifier

Just where the Republic of Ireland's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Georgia will be played remains open to speculation…

Wed Aug 27 2008 - 01:00

Just where the Republic of Ireland's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Georgia will be played remains open to speculation but one option that appears to have been taken off the table is the German city of Karlsruhe.

The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) had indicated earlier today the match would be moved to the venue but forgot, it seems, to have cleared it with their potential German hosts.

In a statement released on their official website this evening, Karlsruhe SC ruled out hosting the group eight match, citing the lack of time and organisational difficulties involved in staging the game at their Wildparkstadion.

As such, the Bundesliga club's sporting director Rolf Dohmen has asked "the Georgian federation to look for another venue".

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A meeting of Fifa officials earlier today discussed the proposed move to Germany but no announcement was made before close of business with a press officer indicating it could be as late as Friday before a decision is taken.

As it stands, the match (due to take place on September 6th) could still be played in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Fifa had asked the Georgians to nominate a neutral venue last week as political unrest continued in their country.

"The Georgian Football Federation have provided us with an alternative venue in case the match has to be moved out of Georgia," explained a Fifa spokesman.

"They were given until yesterday to provide that alternative venue, which is Karlsruhe in Germany.

"Now today, there is a meeting of the board of the organising committee of the Fifa World Cup when they will decide whether the match should be played in Karlsruhe, or in Tbilisi, or wherever."

The lack of clarity leaves the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Irish fans still in the dark just ten days ahead of the fixture.

With around 1,000 supporters having originally planned to travel to the match the FAI has promised to keep fans updated on any developments.

"We remind fans that Fifa is the only authority who will make a decision on this fixture," read a statement released this evening. "The FAI will keep fans updated in the event of a Fifa decision."