NYON, Switzerland (AP) -A UEFA Cup qualifying match in the Georgia capital of Tbilisi was canceled Tuesday because of safety concerns following recent air and land attacks by Russia.
European soccer's governing body said it would be too dangerous to hold the match between the Georgian club WIT and Austria Vienna at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium because of hostilities between Georgia and Russia.
The two-match qualifying event will be shortened to one and played in Vienna on Aug. 28.
Earlier Tuesday, UEFA had said the match would be moved to Rize, Turkey. But that plan fell through when the Georgian Football Federation - also speaking on behalf of WIT - announced the squad could not travel due to security concerns.
``(WIT is) not in a position to organize a safe and secure venue in Georgia, nor to play at an alternative venue,'' UEFA said in a statement.
The decision ends two days of international soccer diplomacy to find a way for WIT Georgia to play. It failed in efforts to play in neighboring Armenia or Azerbaijan.
UEFA did not say how it would deal with a draw, which normally is decided by the away-goal tiebreaker.
``UEFA will contact the clubs and national associations concerned in due time to communicate the rules applicable to this single match,'' it said.
WIT is the last club from Georgia remaining in UEFA-organized competitions this season. Champion Dinamo Tbilisi was knocked out of the Champions League last week by Greek side Panathinaikos.
Dinamo's German coach Rainer Zobel and six foreign players left Georgia earlier this week to seek safety in Germany.
