Empty stadium for Euro qualifier

SOME 3,000 police officers will be present at an empty Lokomotiv stadium on Wednesday for the Euro-2004 qualifier between hosts Georgia and Russia.

According to the Georgian home affairs minister only 150 people will be admitted to the stadium including around 75 journalists and the numerous members of both delegations.

The decision to play the match in an empty stadium was taken by UEFA following the violence which marred Georgia’s 2-1 loss to the Republic of Ireland on March 29.