Kick-off delayed in Brussels, Marseillaise whistles before Belgium‑France clash

The delayed kickoff in Brussels disrupted the Nations League protocol between Belgium and France, with the French players having to adjust their socks while the crowd at the Roi Beaudoin stadium loudly whistled the Marseillaise.

A delay caused by an equipment problem

Scheduled for 20:45, the kickoff of the clash between the Blues and the Red Devils was pushed back by a few minutes. According to broadcaster TF1, the French national team players had to change their socks at the last minute because they were not staying properly on their legs. This difficulty left the Belgian supporters alone in the corridor of the Roi Beaudoin stadium for a while.

The Marseillaise whistled by the Belgian supporters

When the French anthem was finally played, the crowd at the Roi Beaudoin stadium whistled it loudly. The Belgian supporters, eager to challenge their tricolour neighbours, expressed their displeasure loudly. Even though the French players tried to sing their anthem, their voices could not drown out the whistles.

Steven Defour says Nations League overloads Red Devils

This is not the first time Zinedine Zidane’s protocol has been disrupted. In his first Nations League match, last Friday in Turkey, the manager missed the national anthem. Arriving on time this Monday, Zizou again saw the protocol being disturbed.

The Blues, victorious in Turkey three days earlier (0‑1), hope to double the stakes with a second away win. In contrast, the Red Devils, winners in Italy (0‑2) on the first matchday, present a formidable opposition.

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The Roi Beaudoin stadium, the venue of the match, thus experienced a pre‑match that was both amusing and very serious, mixing a comical sock incident with a fierce reaction from the Belgian crowd.