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Malofeev in Minsk hospital

Belarus coach Edouard Malofeev has been taken to a Minsk hospital suffering hypertension.

Belarus coach Edouard Malofeev was taken to a Minsk hospital suffering hypertension this evening, three days before his team face the Netherlands in their opening 2004 UEFA European Championship qualifier.

'Condition worsened'
"He wasn't feeling well this morning and when his condition worsened in the evening the doctors demanded that he would be taken to hospital," said Grigory Fyodorov, president of the Belarus Football Federation (BFF).

Intense negotiations
On Tuesday, the 60-year-old coach was persuaded to stay in his job, ending five days of intense negotiations after he submitted his resignation, citing poor health and heavy criticism from the local media. But the BFF's executive board rejected the offer and urged him to reconsider.

'He will be fine'
Fyodorov said he was confident that Malofeev will recover in time to lead his team for the Group 3 match in Nijmegen. "I'm sure he will be fine by then," said the BFF president. Belarus leave for the Netherlands on Friday. The Czech Republic, Austria and Moldova complete the EURO 2004™ qualifying pool.

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