'We received a letter from UEFA, stating that from now on we no longer can play any international matches in Chisinau,' MSF president Pavel Ciobanu said on Thursday.

UEFA's inspection team, which visited Chisinau last summer, found major problems with safety at the 16,000-seat Republic Stadium. It also lacked proper media and toilet facilities.

UEFA gave local officials 12 months to fix the problems but the struggle for control of the stadium among various state organisations delayed construction work.

'We have asked government officials to give the stadium to our jurisdiction but so far nothing was done,' Ciobanu said.

UEFA president Lennart Johansson pledged nearly £650,000 of UEFA aid to the MSF after visiting Chisinau two years ago, with most of the money going for renovation of stadiums.

'We used some of this money to instal permanent seats in the two main stands but temporary seats behind the goals need major repairs,' Ciobanu said. 'The whole thing is frustrating.'

The stadium problems forced Moldova champions Zimbru Chisinau and their city rivals Constructorul, last season's runners-up, to look elsewhere for their international matches.

Zimbru entertain Albania's SK Tirana in the return leg of a Champions League qualifier next Wednesday, while Constructorul face CSKA Sofia in a UEFA Cup qualifier on August 10.

The only alternatives are stadiums in Tiraspol, Moldova's second city, and in Spea, a small town about 60 kilometres from the capital. But neither is equipped for television coverage.

The national team also faces similar problems in the near future with World Cup qualifiers starting in early September.