FIFA rules Yemen unsafe for Olympic football

FIFA rules Yemen unsafe for Olympic football

Published Feb. 25, 2011 9:56 a.m. ET

FIFA has postponed Yemen's home qualifying match for the 2012 Olympics against Singapore for a second time because of pro-democracy protests in Sanaa.

FIFA says both legs of the first-round tie must be played on neutral territory to ensure fairness and so both matches can proceed ''in a totally safe and secure environment.''

Yemen was scheduled to host Singapore last Wednesday in Sanaa where protesters are demanding the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

FIFA first delayed the match for one week to see if the capital city became safer.

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FIFA says it will work with the Asian Football Confederation to find a neutral host city and new match dates.

The return was scheduled for March 9 in Singapore.

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