Haifa plan Cypriot trips
Saturday, August 24, 2002
Article summary
Maccabi Haifa hope to play in Cyprus if they reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Article body
Stadium options
Haifa had suggested the National stadium in Ramat Gan as their preferred venue for home games, but UEFA's ruling not to allow Israel to hold international matches because of the unstable political situation in the region forced them to look elsewhere.
Nicosia preferred
Haifa played the home leg of their second qualifying round tie against FC Belshina Bobruisk in Sofia but the club's general manager, Itamar Tchizik, said that Nicosia would be a better location despite the fact it would cost more money to play in Cyprus than Bulgaria.
'Sofia is a lot cheaper'
"Sofia is a lot cheaper for the club, but Nicosia is a cheaper option for our fans who will travel in numbers to the neighbouring island," he said. "We are aware that the chances of playing in Israel are slim but UEFA will decide which of the two options it accepts and it appears that if we will not play here it will be in Cyprus."