Belgium’s national soccer team responded to the attacks by canceling its scheduled practice session Tuesday.
The Royal Belgian Football Federation posted an announcement on the Twitter account for its national team, saying, “Football is not important today” and that “our thoughts are with the victims.”
#tousensemble, our thoughts are with the victims. Football is not important today. Training cancelled.
Belgium will host Portugal in a friendly match on March 29 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The game is scheduled as a warm-up for both teams ahead of this year’s European Championship in France.
The Portuguese soccer federation said it was in contact with Belgian authorities about security arrangements for the match.
President Barack Obama was asked by ESPN’s Karl Ravech during the Rays-Cuba baseball game to address the nation about the attacks.
“I had a chance to talk to the Belgian prime minister earlier this morning, right after the explosion had happened, and this is just one more example of why the entire world has to unite against these terrorists — that the notion that any political agenda would justify the killing of innocent people like this is something that’s beyond the pale,” Obama said. “We are going to continue with the over 60 nations that are pounding ISIL and are going to go after them. … In the meantime, obviously, our thoughts and prayers with those who were lost and hoping for a speedy recovery to those who’ve been injured.”
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the explosions are a reminder that a “very high security level” will be required during the European Championship. He said the measures taken to guarantee “collective security” at the June 10-July 10 tournament will include the mobilization of specially trained emergency staff, police forces and firefighters.
The two airport blasts, at least one of them blamed on a suicide bomber, left behind a chaotic scene of splattered blood in the departure lounge as windows were blown out, ceilings collapsed and as travelers streamed out of the smoky building.
About an hour later, another bomb exploded on a rush-hour subway train near the European Union headquarters. Terrified passengers had to evacuate the train through darkened tunnels to safety.
“What we feared has happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said. “In this time of tragedy, this black moment for our country, I appeal to everyone to remain calm but also to show solidarity.”