Turkey stages Israel qualifiers

Israel will play their final two home matches in the UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying competition in Antalya, Turkey.

June and September
The two Group 1 matches in question are against Slovenia on 7 June, and against Malta on 10 September. The corresponding European Under-21 Championship matches on 6 June and 9 September will also take place in Antalya.

Government guarantees
UEFA has given its confirmation that the matches may be staged in Antalya, and has also received the necessary guarantees from the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Turkish Football Federation.

UEFA ban
The Israel Football Association had also been discussing the possibility of staging the two matches in question in Georgia. Israel played their home qualifying game against France earlier this month in the Italian city of Palermo, as UEFA's ban on Israel hosting any club or national-team matches continues because of the volatile security situation in the Middle East.

Sicily venues
Palermo, in Sicily, will host Israel's next home qualifier against Cyprus next Wednesday, while the European Under-21 Championship match between Israel and Cyprus on the same day is being staged in Trapani, Sicily.