UEFA are still undecided about a venue for the Republic of Ireland's European championship game against Yugoslavia because of on going uncertainty about security in Belgrade.

They informed the FAI yesterday that they will reassess the situation after Tuesday's NATO deadline for the withdrawal of Serbian forces from the Kosovo region, expires.

The FAI said they had received assurances from the European body that Friday next would be the cut off point for the announcement of the venue, a timescale which would permit them to make alternative travel plans.

This appears to be at odds with the sentiments expressed by some UEFA officials who said that plans for the international game would hinge on whether the UEFA Cup fixture between Patizan and Lazio goes ahead as scheduled in Belgrade on November 5th.

"A personal view is that if that game takes place without incident, there is no reason why the Republic of Ireland should not fulfil their game in Belgrade. And at this point, the club fixture is still on," said one UEFA official.

"At the moment November 18th is the date set for the game, just as it is for the Albania-Greece fixture which was also postponed from October 10th."