UPDATE 1-SOCCER-WIT GEORGIA TO PLAY VIENNA IN ONE-OFF UEFA TIE

Reuters.uk
Tue Aug 12, 2008
UK

GENEVA, Aug 12 (Reuters) – The UEFA Cup tie between WIT Georgia
and Austria Vienna will be a one-off match on Aug. 28 because the
Georgian club cannot field a team for the first leg on Thursday due
to the conflict in its country, UEFA said.

"As WIT are not in a position to organise a safe and secure venue in
Georgia nor to play at an alternative venue on 14 August, UEFA has
decided to cancel the first leg and play the tie as a one-off match
on 28 August in Vienna," UEFA said in a statement on Tuesday.

"UEFA will contact the clubs and national associations concerned in
due time to communicate the rules applicable to this single match."

Earlier on Tuesday, European soccer’s governing body had said it was
moving the opening leg from Tbilisi to the Turkish city of Rize after
failing to gain the "necessary guarantees" from Armenia or Azerbaijan
to stage the match.

Georgia launched an attack last week in an attempt to regain
control over the pro-Russian province of South Ossetia. Russian
forces responded by sending in troops and conducting air strikes,
with hundreds of civilians being killed.

(Writing by Darren Ennis in Brussels; Editing by Tony Jimenez and
Ken Ferris)