Two Euro 2008 Group A matches between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been cancelled, with both countries losing the six qualifying points available, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Saturday.
The neighbouring countries have been involved in a long-running dispute over land. Armenia wanted the games played on a normal home and away basis but Azerbaijan refused to play host to the Armenians and proposed a neutral ground for both encounters.
"As no suitable compromise could be found between the two associations it was decided to cancel the two matches, namely Azerbaijan-Armenia scheduled for September 8 and Armenia-Azerbaijan scheduled for September 12," UEFA said in a statement following a meeting of its executive committee in the Netherlands.
"It was decided to award both associations zero points for the matches."
Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria and Spain had been mentioned as possible neutral venues for the games but this was not agreeable to either side. Azerbaijan are bottom of the group with five points from eight matches, while Armenia have seven points from seven outings. Poland lead the group with 19 points from nine games.
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