Wales match set to be put back

Wales’ match with Serbia & Montenegro in Belgrade next week is likely to be postponed, it emerged today.

Delegations from the two countries were due to meet UEFA officials in Rome this afternoon to discuss the European Championship qualifier, which is in doubt because of the deteriorating security situation in the former Yugoslavia.

No final decision will be made until after talks have been held with the delegations. But it is understood the game is now likely to be played at a later date, possibly August 20, because UEFA are not keen to switch the fixture from the Red Star Stadium to another venue at such short notice.

Serbia & Montenegro want the match postponed following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic because they want to avoid situations where there are mass gatherings.

Meanwhile, UEFA’s executive committee have awarded next season’s Champions League final to the Schalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and the UEFA Cup final to the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Newcastle’s St James’ Park, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and Hampden Park in Glasgow were all in the running for the UEFA Cup final. But because of the fact that last season’s Champions League final was in Glasgow and this year’s at Old Trafford their chances of success were always going to be slim.