SOCCER/Euro 2004 Qualifying: There was considerable disappointment within the FAI yesterday over UEFA's decision to make Georgia play its forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Russia behind closed doors because of the behaviour of the home fans during Ireland's recent game there.
But the association's officers will not formally consider the situation until after it becomes clear whether their counterparts in Tbilisi intend to appeal the punishment during the next few days.
The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) has until midnight on Friday to lodge an appeal but it is far from clear at this stage whether the association's officials will pursue the case in the light of the evidence against them.
"Really it all boils down to what was in the UEFA delegate's report from the match," said former UEFA Executive Committee member Des Casey yesterday. "We don't know what was in that yet, although by all accounts it wasn't too pretty.
"The Georgians have very little to lose by lodging an appeal but all we can do is wait and see what they do. UEFA have been cracking down on this sort of situation over the past while, you saw it with the Slovakians after the England game, and if the report submitted to them is strong then it's unlikely that very much would be changed in the event of an appeal."
In the event that the Georgians do press the case then the appeal is likely to be held towards the end of next week. The FAI would be expected to support them but the Irish would not be in a position to make much by way of a practical contribution to the proceedings which are essentially between the European football's governing body and the GFF.
The position is also a little awkward for the FAI as the issue at the heart of the case is one of player safety. Kevin Kilbane was struck by the blunt end of a penknife during last month's game while Gary Doherty came close to being hit by a glass bottle and several other members of the team had other missiles, mainly coins or plastic bottles, thrown at them.
The Russians would be expected to get a considerably more hostile reception from the local fans next Wednesday week than the Irish did and so, while it is undoubtedly unfair that the Republic's qualification rivals might get to play in a less hostile environment, it would appear difficult for the FAI to argue that there is no real threat involved.
Brian Kerr was, nevertheless, disappointed with yesterday's decision by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary committee with the Ireland manager remarking: "The decision saddens me greatly. Ourselves and Switzerland have had to go there and play in front of a partisan and volatile crowd and this decision gives Russia an unfair advantage."
FAI treasurer John Delaney said that the issue would be discussed over the coming days but Casey has advised the association's officials to wait until further details are available.
"I've said to them to hold off for the moment," said Casey. "A lot will depend on the actual wording of the decision and at the moment we don't have that.
"They'll put a bit of flesh on their initial statement during the next few days and then we'll have a better chance of assessing how much hope there is of the situation being altered."
