CAS upholds UEFA ruling on Israeli neutral site matches

The Court for Arbitration in Sport rejected the Israeli Football Association's appeal that two UEFA Cup matches should be played at neutral sites for security reasons.

UEFA said concerns over fighting in Lebanon and Israel prompted the order to change venues.

"In view of the circumstances there is no room to grant the requested injunction which would cancel UEFA's decision," the IFA said in quoting from the decision on its Internet site.

Last week, UEFA told the IFA that Israel would not be allowed to host UEFA Cup second qualifying round first-leg matches to be held on Aug 10.

The decision forced Hapoel Tel Aviv to name Willem II's ground in Tilburg, the Netherlands to host NK Domzale of Slovenia. Bnei Yehuda named Senec's ground in Slovakia to face Bulgarians Lokomotiv Sofia in their European debut.

UEFA said it would make a decision soon on Maccabi Haifa's Champions League third qualifying round home leg with Liverpool, set for Aug. 22 or 23. Also ahead is a decision on Beitar Jerusalem's UEFA Cup second qualifying round clash with Dinamo Bucharest on Aug. 24.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.