UEFA are to send a delegation to Israel to assess the country's suitability for hosting international games but it remains almost certain Manchester United will not be asked to fly there.
After his team had overcome Maccabi Haifa 5-2 in their opening Champions League tie of the new campaign, Old Trafford chief Sir Alex Ferguson insisted they would travel to the Middle East for the October 29th return if UEFA ordered them to.
"It wouldn't affect us if we played in Israel and if that was the decision we would go," said Ferguson after last night's win.
At the moment however, the match is scheduled for Cypriot capital Nicosia, which will also play host to the rest of Maccabi's 'home' games after UEFA asked them to provide an alternative venue because of security concerns.
In response to a presentation made by Israel Football Association president Gavriel Levi last week, a UEFA party, led by vice-presidents Senes Erzik and Angel Maria Villar Llona, will visit the country, with a further announcement being made once their findings are known.
"The current position on club competition matches being played outside of Israel remains unchanged," confirmed UEFA in a statement, reinforcing a decision not to play international matches in the country, which was invoked last June.
However, it is almost impossible to imagine United being asked to travel given the delicate political situation which exists in Israel at the present time.
Apart from the possible terrorist threat posed to the arrival of the one of the world's most famous clubs, the likely insurance costs would be astronomical.
In addition, Maccabi will open their home programme against Olympiakos in Cyprus next Tuesday and it is hard to believe that either United or group rivals Bayer Leverkusen would countenance the Greeks being handed the significant advantage of playing their match in Nicosia while they are forced to turn out in Israel.