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Belgium’s friendly with Portugal called off in wake of Brussels attacks | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The friendly match between Belgium and Portugal has been called off in the wake of the Brussels bomb attacks. | |
Related: Belgium cancel training session after explosions in Brussels | Related: Belgium cancel training session after explosions in Brussels |
The 29 March match had been scheduled to take place at the King Baudouin Stadium in the city, but has been cancelled “for safety and precaution” at the request of the city of Brussels, according to a statement by the Belgian FA. | |
The Belgian national team had not trained for a second day, calling off a scheduled session on Wednesday morning in the attacks that killed more than 30 people. | |
Belgian press reports had said the Belgium coach Marc Wilmots and his team’s players wanted to go ahead with the game and had rejected a possible plan to move it to Portugal. | |
In an earlier statement, the Belgian FA KBVB said: “We had been in contact with the Portuguese for much of Tuesday and consulted several different security authorities, although understandably they have been absorbed with more urgent matters.” | |
Belgium, who are one of the favourites for the European Championship finals in France, had their last international against Spain in November cancelled in the wake of the Paris attacks. | Belgium, who are one of the favourites for the European Championship finals in France, had their last international against Spain in November cancelled in the wake of the Paris attacks. |