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FIFA says Georgia safe for World Cup qualifiers
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-23 16:34

ZURICH, Switzerland - FIFA gave the all clear Tuesday for Georgia to once again host World Cup qualifying matches.

Georgia was judged too dangerous to stage international football matches earlier this month in the aftermath of five days of fighting with neighboring Russia in a territorial dispute over the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The Georgians are scheduled to play Cyprus on October 11 and Bulgaria four days later at the 54,000-capacity Boris Paichadze National Stadium in the capital Tbilisi.

"FIFA will remain in close contact with the Georgian Football Federation," the world governing body said in a statement, "but for the time being sees no indication suggesting organization and security standards will not be maintained for these matches."

Georgia opened its World Cup qualifying campaign on September 6 with a 2-1 loss to Ireland at the German city of Mainz after the Irish asked FIFA to switch the match to a neutral venue.

Georgia captain Kakha Kaladze had criticized FIFA's decision to move the match.

"There is no civil war in Georgia," Kaladze said. "We are not dangerous."

Georgia is bottom of the standings in Group 8 of European qualifying for the 2010 Word Cup in South Africa after losing its second match 2-0 at defending champion Italy.

Domestic football in Georgia has also resumed after being affected by the hostilities.

The Umaglesi Liga kicked off three weeks late on September 13 with 11 teams, including Spartaki Tskhinvali representing the South Ossetian capital.