Belgium’s friendly against Portugal next Tuesday has been moved from Brussels to Leiria.
The Royal Belgian Football Association announced yesterday morning that the game had been cancelled because of security fears following the terrorist attacks in Brussels.
But hours later the Belgian FA issued another statement an-nouncing the game would be played after all but in Portugal.
“Given the dramatic events of yesterday (Tuesday), in these difficult times to allow mass events to take place safely and given the terror level 4 at national level, the game against Portugal will not take place in Brussels next Tuesday,” it read.
“This was decided today (yesterday) in coordination with the authorities and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
“The Board of Directors of the Belgian FA has, in agreement with the national coach and coaching staff, decided to accept the proposal of the Portuguese Football Federation to play this match in Leiria, on the same day and at the same time.
“The Belgian FA appreciates the availability, flexibility and solutions offered by the Portuguese Federation. The FPF expresses its full solidarity with the Belgian FA in this tough and emotional period.”
Explosions at Brussels’s international airport and a metro station on Tuesday morning killed more than 30 people and injured many more.
The Belgium team cancelled their scheduled training session later in the day out of respect for the victims.
Belgium were facing having a second successive friendly cancelled after their scheduled clash with Spain in Brussels was called off in November following the Paris atrocities.
UEFA has insisted there are no plans to play matches at Euro 2016 behind closed doors in response to the increased security threat.
UEFA said in a statement: “We are confident that all security measures will be in place for a safe and festive Euro and therefore there are no plans to play matches behind closed doors.”
Today's friendlies
Malta vs Moldova - 15.00
Estonia vs Norway - 18.00
Greece vs Montenegro - 19.00
Turkey vs Sweden - 19.45
Denmark vs Iceland - 20.00
Ukraine vs Cyprus - 20.00
Czech Rep. vs Scotland - 20.45
Italy vs Spain - 20.45
Wales vs Northern Ireland - 20.45