The international friendly between Belgium and Spain scheduled for Tuesday night has been abandoned due to safety fears following the manhunt for those responsible for last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris.
Belgium were due to host Spain at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels later tonight, but the Belgian Football Association has confirmed that they have cancelled the match due to the “security risk” posed to both sets of players as well as the fans.
A statement from the Belgian FA said: "In consultation with the competent authorities and the Spanish national team, the Belgian FA has decided to cancel the match.
"At the very end of the evening the Belgian FA was contacted by the government, who made the recommendation not to play tomorrow's match. This is because the terror alert level is high and with the current leakage of a suspicious person.
"We deeply regret that such a friendly match between two motivated teams has been cancelled so late and we understand the disappointment of many supporters.
"However, taking into account the exceptional circumstances, we cannot take any security risk with players and fans.
"Ticket holders will get more information about tickets in the course of this week."
The decision comes after French prosecutors identified a Belgian native as the Paris attacks’ mastermind, with at least 129 people killed in several bombings and shootings that took place across the French capital on Friday night.
Police have named Brussels-born Salah Abdeslam, 26, as a key suspect in the Paris attacks, while a manhunt is underway across Europe to apprehend any surviving members and accomplices to the group that were responsible for Friday’s tragic events.
The Stade de France was targeted while France played Germany in an international friendly, but the French Football Federation (FFF) has taken the decision to go ahead with tonight’s friendly against England in a show of solidarity and unity against the terrorists,
