TABLE RAN GERS were at the centre of a European Cup mix-up last
night when they were told by UEFA that the second match in their
mini-league series -- against CSKA Moscow -- now will not go ahead in
Spain on December 9.
The Russian side, who cannot play at home at this time of the year
because their winters are so severe, informed Rangers by fax last Friday
-- the deadline they had been given -- that they had decided on
Santander in northern Spain, where the local second-division club has a
modern 25,000-seater stadium.
Last night, Rangers' secretary/director, Campbell Ogilvie, said:
''That suited us fine but then UEFA told us not to act on the
information we had been given. They gave us verbal confirmation of the
Spanish venue, and we were all set to have a meeting with Russian
officials in Spain on Thursday or Friday of this week.''
There was a turnaround yesterday, however, when Rangers, who open
their campaign against Marseille at Ibrox a week tomorrow, were told by
UEFA that Santander was out and that another ground in another neutral
country would have to be found.
No explanation was given as to why the Russians, who beat European
Cup-holders Barcelona in Spain in the last round would not be returning
to that country.
Originally Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin were named as likely venues,
along with one in Austria, and the odds now would seem heavily on the
match going ahead in Germany. An official announcement is expected
today.
Said Ogilvie: ''We are completely in the dark as to why Spain has been
ruled out but this latest move is no great problem to us. We had not
made any travel arrangements or discussed any other aspects. It doesn't
affect us in any way.
''We hope to find out more details tomorrow and I would expect we will
still go ahead with our meeting with the Russians at the end of the week
in whatever country the game has to be played.''
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