UEFA Cup: Rangers ordered to play in Dagestan

Rangers have been told their match against Anzhi Makhachkala will be played on Thursday in Dagestan, despite the club's safety concerns.

Rangers had asked for the game to be moved to another venue because of social and political unrest in the Russian province.

But Uefa have rejected the application.

A Uefa statement said: "Following written confirmation last night of both the insurance cover obtained by Rangers FC and the travel arrangements now in place, Uefa confirms that the match should go ahead as scheduled. We are therefore unable to grant the club's request for a relocation of the tie.

"Uefa faces difficult decisions in playing football in several parts of its territory and we have to assess a wide range of issues and safety provisions on each occasion.

"Having completed our consultations in this instance and in light of the steps already taken by the Russian authorities to guarantee security, we must now request that this match proceed in accordance with the draw and the rules of the competition."

Rangers are due to play Anzhi Makhachkala in the Dagestani capital, which is close to war-torn Chechnya and has been rocked by car bombs in the past few days.

The Foreign Office have advised Britons not to go there after Westerners were kidnapped.