UEFA lift ban on Israel home ties

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JERUSALEM -- European football's governing body has lifted a ban on home matches in Israel a month after the end of the war with Hizbollah guerrillas.

The ban was imposed early last month, forcing all Israeli home fixtures under UEFA's jurisdiction to be played at other venues in European countries.

Nearly 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon and more than 150 Israelis were killed in the 34-day conflict .There was a ceasefire on August 14.

The association announced on Friday: "UEFA has today informed the Israeli FA of its decision to lift the ban on European matches taking place in Israel with immediate effect.

" This follows the decision to relocate all matches to neutral territory made on 7 August 2006 due to the conflict in the area."

Matches can only be played in the Tel Aviv area but it will allow Israel to host their next Euro 2008 home qualifier, against Croatia in November.It will be played as originally scheduled at the National Stadium in the city.

UEFA reserved the right to reimpose the ban if the security situation deteriorated.

Israel are in qualifying Group E with England, Russia, Croatia, Macedonia, Estonia and Andorra.

Hapoel Tel Aviv will also benefit, as they will be able to host their UEFA Cup first-round second leg tie against Chernomorets Odessa of Ukraine at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv on September 28. They won Thursday's away leg 1-0.

Israel's other UEFA Cup representative, Maccabi Haifa, hosted their first-round home leg against Litex Lovech of Bulgaria in the Netherlands on Thursday and will go into the away leg level at 1-1.

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