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FIFA has confirmed that it is continuing to monitor the situation in Georgia and is liaising closely with the Georgian Football Federation (GFF) over arrangements for the forthcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier against Republic of Ireland on 6 September.
"FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation in Georgia, while the Bureau of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup will assess the very latest situation in the country as of 26 August 2008 - the deadline given to the Georgian Football Federation (GFF) for them to announce an alternative venue for their qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland, scheduled for 6 September 2008," read a FIFA statement. "FIFA has asked the GFF to name an alternative venue for this match by 26 August 2008 in order to be prepared, should the situation in Georgia still require a neutral venue."
Group 8 of the UEFA Zone preliminaries to South Africa 2010 also comprises Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Montenegro. Georgia are due to play the Italians in Udine four days after opening up their campaign against Republic of Ireland.