Georgia game at risk?

[gspain]

This may sound a little silly but could FIFA be contemplating suspending the match to another date because of Italian influence. Italians are obviously big dogs in Europe, what with being world champions and all. Im sure that if they questioned FIFA about playing this match in Germany, FIFA would quite likely give into what the Italians want

you would be spot on if this is the only home game Georgia would play at a neutral venue. Then the Italians would tell FIFA what to do. However my understanding of the rules is that all georgia's home games would then be played in Germany. In that case the Italians would be happy for us to play there.

I think FIFA will postpone the game as predicted earlier in the thread. They will threaten the georgians but will not take action. Then come October if Tbilisi is OK then all games will be played there. If not then they will really nominate a neitral venue.

[Sligo Hornet]

my head is fit to burst. thankfully have not booked anything to germany yet.

Yup, I would say there is a lot of pressure being applied by the Italians. I could have a nice weekend sitting in the stadium by myself

sadly I have booked flights to Frankfurt ( on the strength of hearing an announcement on Talksport and reading the same "confirmation" on Teletext)

See you in the stadium RonnieB.....I'll buy you a frankfurter!

[NeilMcD]

I do not think I have booked so many flights in my life for a match and I still do not know which ones I will be on. Anywhere in Germany will be fine by me and sure Tiblisi would still be fine but please do not cancel it.

[Sligo Hornet]

I do not think I have booked so many flights in my life for a match and I still do not know which ones I will be on. Anywhere in Germany will be fine by me and sure Tiblisi would still be fine but please do not cancel it.

Well if they do ( Christ I hope not) I'll buy you a pint in Frankfurt,Munich,Stuttgart,Karlsruhe,Tbilisi,Vienn a,Azerbaijan,Armenia,Trabzon and Istanbul!!

p.s It'll be your round when we arrive in Craven Cottage!

[geysir]

If all Georgian home games have to be played at a neutral venue why the pressure from the Italiens ?

We do not know if there is pressure from the Italians, it is just a thought that they would have at least some concern

It is a question but not a certainty that all Georgian home games would have to be played be played at a neutral venue in the event of this game being played in Germany.

[Newryrep]

We do not know if there is pressure from the Italians, it is just a thought that they would have at least some concern

It is a question but not a certainty that all Georgian home games would have to be played be played at a neutral venue in the event of this game being played in Germany.

Any precendent set ?

[BradyIsMyHero]

Karlsruhe R.I.P.

Evening Herald to officiate at funeral, along with Reuters and half-p*ssed Georgian Fa official who gave them the quote from late night bar in Zurich

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soc...680055333.html

[SUB of the day]

FIFA were ready to sanction Karlsruhe, but the unexpected curve ball of the Germans saying "thanks, but no thanks" has forced them to delay announcement , till alternative venue is confirmed.

[Kilcruise]

i think this is absolute disgrace by FIFA sitting on the fence for so long , the theory on Italy is also very interesting.
I am getting very nervous now that the game will be postponed. i hope not. but why the delay in the announcment!!!!!!!!!!

thisis titally unfair on the irish supporter. why are we not hearing more form the FAI????

[geysir]

Any precendent set ?

NI had to play away from the 6 co.

For a while it looked that the instability might well be temporary so Georgia would have had a case for playing the rest of their games at home even if they had to play us at a neutral venue in the first game. But now it looks like not a lot will change there politically before their two October home games.

Not directly related but Georgia were punished with just one closed door game against Russia after the transgressions were made in our game.
So we had to grit our teeth while Russia attempted to benefit from that.

[gspain]

Israel played a whole campaign in Cyprus a few years back.

My view is the Georgians are looking for a postponement. they risk being thrown out and are gambling FIFA don't have the balls to do it. I think they are right. I hope they are wrong.

[SUB of the day]

Irish Times site now saying ,FIFA have said any decision may not be made till Friday.Giving any City or stadium such short notice is really pushing it

[Ireland4ever]

FFS this is an absolute shambles. COuld FIFA be anymore useless if they tried???? How hard is it to just announce where they want the match to be and let that be that.

[Dodge]

Again lads, do any of who honestly think football is the priority in Georgia? Tough on fans looking for info, but surely a bif of leeway can be given

[p_o_r]

Since Karlsruhe is RIP as stated above why don't they just pop over to Kaiserslautern.

It's a better stadium and suites me just fine with my e150 flight from Kerry to Hahn on the morning of the game that I booked on the back of that crazy lunchtime report AHHHHHH

[mypost]

Vienna was supposed to be another option, although unlikely. They could look at Klagenfurt, if they really want to be near Italy.

[Green Tribe]

I really do think that a Southern German venue will be announce tomorrow afternoon. I am not basing this on something i have heard just guessing on what i think is likely. Just very stressful at the moment as to where it will be. Really glad we didn;t book any german flights

[gspain]

Vienna was supposed to be another option, although unlikely. They could look at Klagenfurt, if they really want to be near Italy.

As part of a doubleheader with Austria v France.

Unfortunately lots of misinformation here. It was mentioned though as you say.

[Sligo Hornet]

Totally agree that FIFA are at fault....after all, they constantly state that only they can make a final decision.

That being said,the FAI are not blameless for yesterday's "German debacle".

When the "confirmed Karlsrhue" announcement appeared in our national press ( and Uk news and radio) why did the FAI not state clearly that NO FINAL DECISION HAD BEEN MADE BY FIFA,AND THEREFORE THEIR ADVICE TO FANS IS TO WAIT BEFORE MAKING ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS!!

Very simple and the least we should have expected from them!

[macdermesser]

As part of a doubleheader with Austria v France.

Unfortunately lots of misinformation here. It was mentioned though as you say.

guess I am being slightly selfish .. but Vienna would be very nice... but as you rightly say, a non-runner. Rapid and Austria's ground only have a 15,000 capacity so not possible there either.

One of the Euro stadiums could be possible e.g. Salzburg or Klagenfurt .. but wasn't it narrowed down to either Graz or Krakow now that Karlsruhe is a non-runner?