League crisis hits Georgia

Four Georgian Premier League clubs were handed automatic defeats by the Georgian Football Federation (GFF) today after the health of the country's league was hit by a mini-revolt.

Failed to pay
FC Merani-91 Tbilisi, FC Metalurgi Zestaponi, FC Gorda 2000 Rustavi and FC Milani Tsnori all failed to pay a €10,000 participation fee in time for the first league fixtures, and the four were subsequently awarded technical defeats in their respective games.

'Second chance'
The clubs are given a second chance until Friday," GFF general secretary Valeri Cholaria told uefa.com. "In case the clubs fail to pay, the league will be played with eight teams, each playing each other four times - and without these four."

Face expulsion
Cholaria added that the four clubs actually faced expulsion from the GFF if they failed to comply further with teh league's regulations. Three of the clubs - Milani, Merani-91 and Metalurgi -have agreed between themselves to pay only about €2,000 until 24 August, when the GFF's general assembly is to elect the new president.

Dinamo angry
The fourth side, FC Gorda Rustavi, insist the money has been paid but have failed to produce the proof of payment. FC Dinamo Tbilisi, who were scheduled to play Metalurgi, have reacted angrily to the crisis in the league. "Everyone knows the laws of the GFF, and clubs are to respect them. It is abnormal that the fans have come to the stadium and could not see football," the club's Croatian head coach, Ivo Susak, said.

Election coming up
It is reported that the reason behind the league crisis in Georgia is the upcoming election, scheduled for 24 August, where current GFF president Merab Zhordania stands against another contender, David Petriashvili, formerly the GFF's chief of external relations.