Internet Desk: Belgium has moved a friendly international against Portugal away from Brussels after the militant attacks on the city while UEFA said it has “contingency plans” for the European Championships in France.
But, Europe’s governing body and the French government insisted that Euro 2016 will go ahead and there will be no games behind closed doors.
Belgium, the world’s top ranked team, had been due to play Portugal in Brussels next Tuesday.
But, a day after the attacks on Brussels airport and the city metro in which 31 people died, the Belgian federation said the match had been called off for “security reasons.”
Portugal’s federation later announced that the two countries had agreed to play the match the same day in the Portuguese city of Leiria instead.
“I wanted to play in Brussels, at home, because I am against fear,” said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots.
“I wanted to play here to show them (the terrorists) that despite the terrible events, which shook the country, life goes on for the majority of people.”
The Islamic State assaults on Paris and Brussels over the past four months have increased the security spotlight on the 24-nation European Championships due to start in Paris on June 10.
One of the deadly suicide attacks in Paris on November 13 was against the Stade de France and security will again be heightened when France play Russia there on Tuesday, authorities said.
France’s games against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday has also been confirmed.
UEFA and France say they are determined that Euro 2016 should go ahead.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said not holding the tournament would be “a victory for terrorists.
Courtesy – PTI