TABLE RAN GERS were at the centre of a European Cup mix-up last

night when they were told by UEFA that the second match in their

mini-league series -- against CSKA Moscow -- now will not go ahead in

Spain on December 9.

The Russian side, who cannot play at home at this time of the year

because their winters are so severe, informed Rangers by fax last Friday

-- the deadline they had been given -- that they had decided on

Santander in northern Spain, where the local second-division club has a

modern 25,000-seater stadium.

Last night, Rangers' secretary/director, Campbell Ogilvie, said:

''That suited us fine but then UEFA told us not to act on the

information we had been given. They gave us verbal confirmation of the

Spanish venue, and we were all set to have a meeting with Russian

officials in Spain on Thursday or Friday of this week.''

There was a turnaround yesterday, however, when Rangers, who open

their campaign against Marseille at Ibrox a week tomorrow, were told by

UEFA that Santander was out and that another ground in another neutral

country would have to be found.

No explanation was given as to why the Russians, who beat European

Cup-holders Barcelona in Spain in the last round would not be returning

to that country.

Originally Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin were named as likely venues,

along with one in Austria, and the odds now would seem heavily on the

match going ahead in Germany. An official announcement is expected

today.

Said Ogilvie: ''We are completely in the dark as to why Spain has been

ruled out but this latest move is no great problem to us. We had not

made any travel arrangements or discussed any other aspects. It doesn't

affect us in any way.

''We hope to find out more details tomorrow and I would expect we will

still go ahead with our meeting with the Russians at the end of the week

in whatever country the game has to be played.''