(Tbilisi. April 30, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Up to 3,000 Georgian policemen will protect security during the EURO 2004 qualifying soccer match between Georgian and Russian soccer teams in Tbilisi today.
According to the UEFA?s decision only 11,000 ticket holders from the abandoned qualifier against Russia on 12 October last year will be able to attend the replay. The last year Georgian-Russian match was abandoned at half-time because of floodlight failure at the Lokomotivi stadium in Tbilisi.
UEFA’s Appeals Body on April 25 partially upheld an appeal by the Georgian Football Federation against the initial ruling that Georgia would have to play one match behind closed doors, made by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body earlier this month following incidents at the Group 10 qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland in Tbilisi on 29 March.
Georgian and Russian high officials intend to attend the match, including Parliamentary speakers.
The match will be broadcasted live via two large screens installed near the Lokomotivi stadium for those fans unable to attend the match.