SWITZERLAND: LEICESTER CITY MEET WITH UEFA OFFICIALS IN NYON IN BID TO CHANGE VENUE FOR UEFA CUP MATCH AGAINST YUGOSLAV SIDE RED STAR BELGRADE

Record ID: 647831

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: LEICESTER CITY MEET WITH UEFA OFFICIALS IN NYON IN BID TO CHANGE VENUE FOR UEFA CUP MATCH AGAINST YUGOSLAV SIDE RED STAR BELGRADE
  • Date: 6th September 2000
  • Summary: NYON, SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 6, 2000) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. EXTERIOR UEFA HEADQUARTERS 2. UEFA FLAG 3. JOURNALIST TALKING TO LEICESTER CITY CHAIRMAN, JOHN ELSOM 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN ELSOM EXPLAINING THE CLUB'S SITUATION SAYS: "Of course there are concerns because we don't know there wouldn't be consequences to the election as regards public attitudes and we wouldn't wish our players to be placed in any sort of uncertain atmosphere when they are in Yugoslavia." 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UEFA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS MIKE LEE SAYING: "We are not going to leap to any conclusions. There is a range of factors that need to be considered. It's important to reflect on those. Leicster brought some important information to us today. We need time to confirm that information and we want to make a decision this week so everybody knows what the position is and we look to announce that on Friday." 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN ELSOM SAYS: "They receive us very courteously. Of course, they themselves have also been briefed on Yugoslavia, they listened to our presentation and there is a number of options, they will now retire and consider those options and they will let us know a decision by the end of the week." 7. UEFA CUP ON GLASS DISPLAY 8. JOHN ELSOM AND ENGLISH F.A. CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID DAVIES LEAVING BUILDING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NYON, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVABCCLHQI93QIJ44N2JCTT0VN5
  • Story Text: European soccer governing body UEFA hopes to announce
    until Friday (September 9) if English premier league club
    Leicester succeded in their appeal to change the venue of their
    UEFA Cup first round second leg match against Red Star Belgrade,
    initially scheduled for Thursday, September 28, in Yugoslavia.



    Leicester City chairman John Elsom met officials at UEFA
    headquarters, on Wednesday (September 6), in Nyon, Switzerland
    and expects to hear by the end of the week whether the venue of
    their UEFA Cup first round second leg against Red Star Belgrade
    will be changed.

    Elsom, who was joined by David Davies, chief executive of
    the English Football Association, wants the game, scheduled for
    September 28, played at a neutral venue because of fears of
    civil unrest following a general election in Yugoslavia.

    If the game goes ahead as planned, Leicester would be the
    first British club to play in Yugoslavia since NATO airstrikes
    on Serbian troops last year.

    After meeting with Mike Lee, UEFA's director of
    communications, Elsom said: "Of course there are concerns
    because we don't know there wouldn't be consequences to the
    election as regards public attitudes and we wouldn't wish our
    players to be placed in any sort of uncertain atmosphere when
    they are in Yugoslavia...They have informed us that they will
    now consider a number of options available to them and intend to
    report back to us by the end of this week."
    UEFA were initially cautious about the request by
    Leicester to change the venue: "We are not going to leap to any
    conclusions. There is a range of factors that need to be
    considered. It's important to reflect on those. Leicster brought
    some important information to us today. We need time to confirm
    that information and we want to make a decision this week so
    everybody knows what the position is and we look to announce
    that on Friday," said spokesman Michael Lee.

    The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned
    Leicester against travelling to Belgrade.

    Leicester's preferred option is for the game to be played
    at a neutral venue. The first leg is in Leicester next Wednesday
    (September 12).

    Last season, Leeds United's UEFA Cup first round first leg
    against Partizan Belgrade was switched from the Serbian capital
    to Heerenveen in the Netherlands.



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