Russia's soccer chief has dismissed reports that the 2004 European Championship qualifier against Ireland on Saturday could be postponed because of heavy smog in Moscow.

"No, absolutely not, we don't even have any provisions for a possible postponement," said Alexander Tukmanov, executive director of the Russian Football Union on Thursday.

"The match will go on schedule, I can guarantee that".

Russian media had quoted federation secretary general Vladimir Rodionov earlier in the day as saying that the Group 10 opener at Moscow's Lokomotiv stadium could be in jeopardy.

The smog from fires outside the capital thickened considerably on Thursday morning, particularly in eastern Moscow, where the Lokomotiv stadium is located.

The pitch was barely visible from the upper stands.

Smog also prompted delays in some flights at Moscow airports on Thursday morning.

The Irish were scheduled to arrive in Moscow later on Thursday.

"We're monitoring the situation on a daily basis," said Tukmanov.

"Yes, the smog was really bad this morning, but in the afternoon the situation has improved.

"So right now I wouldn't worry about the cancellation of the match on Saturday".

WC = World Cup
WCQ = World Cup
EC = European Championship
ECQ = European Championship
F = Friendly International

HEAD TO HEAD MATCH TOTALS

	All	Russia	Ireld	Drawn
Total meetings	11	5	4	2
World Cup Quals	4	2	2	0
Euro Ch'ships	1	0	0	1
Euro Ch Quals	2	1	1	0
Friendlies	4	2	1	1

FIXTURE HISTORY

DATE		COMP	MATCH		RESULT
18 Oct	1972	WC Q	Rep of I	1-2	Soviet Un
13 May	1973	WC Q	Soviet Un	1-0	Rep of I
30 Oct	1972	EC Q	Rep of I	3-0	Soviet Un
18 May	1975	EC Q	Soviet Un	2-1	Rep of I
12 Sep	1984	WC Q	Rep of I	1-0	Soviet Un
16 Oct	1985	WC Q	Soviet Un	2-0	Rep of I
15 Jun	1988	EC	Soviet Un	1-1	Rep of I
25 Apr	1990	F	Rep of I	1-0	Soviet Un
23 Mar	1994	F	Rep of I	0-0	Russia
27 Mar	1996	F	Rep of I	0-2	Russia
13 Feb	2002	F	Rep of I	2-0	Russia

MOST RECENT MEETING

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2-0 RUSSIA

Friendly - 13 February, 2002 - Lansdowne Road, Dublin

Rep Ireland scorers: Reid 3, Robbie Keane 20

Rep Ireland team: Given (Kiely 46), Finnan (McAteer 72) (Quinn 90), Harte (Staunton 72), Roy Keane (Holland 86), O'Brien (Dunne 46), Cunningham (Breen 46), Reid (Kelly G 46), Healy (Carsley 46), Robbie Keane (Sadlier 72), Duff (Morrison 46), Kilbane (Kennedy 46).

Russia team: Nigmatullin, Khlestov (Daev 90), Kovtun, Khokhlov (Izmailov 53), Nikiforov (Chugainov 66), Onopko, Karpin,. Mostovoi, Alenichev (Semak 72), Bestchastnykh, Titov.

Referee: Dermot Gallagher - Att: 44,000