Soccer / Israel told to play in Turkey

Israel’s next two opponents, Slovenia and Malta, both asked European soccer’s governing body to order Israel to play in Turkey, claiming that Antalya is much closer than Georgia. UEFA accepted their request, and has told the Israeli and Turkish authorities to make the necessary arrangements.

The Turks have already said that they are willing to host Israel’s games, and have offered Antalya, which is served by regular flights from Ben-Gurion International Airport.

The Turkish police will now have to inform Israel how much the security for the game will cost. Georgia had said that it would bear all security costs – a move initiated by President Eduard Shevardnadze.

IFA chairman Gavri Levi confirmed that UEFA had asked Israel to relocate the games, but stressed that until the final details were worked out, the game was still scheduled to go ahead in Tblisi.