Red Star will not play in Belgrade

Nyon, Switzerland, September 12 - European Football Association (UEFA) spokesman Mike Lee said on Tuesday that the UEFA had decided that the UEFA Cup first round second leg match between Red Star Belgrade and Leicester City (England) would be played at a neutral venue on its original date of September 28, instead of in Belgrade on September 21.

Lee said European Football's governing body had now insisted on a neutral venue because it was not satisfied with the response it had received from Red Star over security issues. Lee did not specify the venue.

This is an unusual decision of the UEFA, based in the Swiss town of Nyon, which plainly did not take into consideration the Yugoslav champion's firm guarantees that it would provide normal conditions for the match.

The first leg is on September 14.

Dzajic: "We will appeal"

Dragan Dzajic

Belgrade, September 12th - "We are deeply disappointed and dissatisfied with the UEFA decision. UEFA constantly emphasizes that "sport is above politics", but it had yet again neglected its principle. Anyway, we are traveling to Leicester, and when we return we will decide whether we will play the return match outside of our country or not" - president of the Belgrade club, Dragan Dzajic, legend of the Yugoslav and European football says.

Besides its appeal to the UEFA`s decision, Red Star delegation will travel to Switzerland town Nyon, the seat of the European Football Association, where they will insist that the Yugoslav club be treated by the same criteria and rules as clubs from other countries are.