Georgia dismayed by FIFA decision to switch Ireland qualifier

THE Georgian Football Federation have described FIFA’s decision to move next month’s World Cup qualifying game against Ireland out of the country as “a shock for all the people of Georgia.”

But while the world governing body have confirmed that Georgia can appeal the decision, Alexander Tsonbiladze, a spokesman for the country’s football association, suggested that such a move was unlikely on the grounds that FIFA would probably not change their mind.

Last night Georgia FA president, Nodar Aklialkatsi added his voice to the Georgian protests, saying: “We are hugely disappointed that the match will be played in a neutral venue. It was a crucial qualifier because it will be our first and we worked very hard at the fixtures meeting. But we have a bigger situation at home. But it won’t matter where we play, the players will use this as a bigger motivation against Ireland to get a result.”