Benfica pulls out of Hamilton game: report

According to European media outlets, the international soccer match between Benfica of Portugal and Glasgow Rangers at Tim Hortons Field next Friday night has been cancelled.

The promoters, Elite Soccer Entertainment of Brampton, could not be reached for comment over the weekend.

But Steve Schiedel, president of Greenhorizons Sod Farms of Mount Hope which was to install natural grass at the stadium in the middle of next week, said the promoters would let him know on Monday morning what would happen with the scheduled Friday game. His company was set to harvest the grass Tuesday night.

Britain’s Sky Sports is reporting that Rangers are considering legal action after Benfica informed Elite Soccer that they were not coming to Canada for the fixture, which was to be Eusebio Cup, an annual Benfica game to honour their longtime star.

Rangers said on their website that the team was set to leave for Canada on Tuesday — they were going to stay in Toronto and bus to Hamilton for the Oct. 6 game — and are still seeking a detailed explanation from Benfica why they have pulled out.

The Portuguese national team plays Andorra in a World Cup qualifier Saturday, but only two Benfica players were going to be left behind to play in that game when the rest of the team was travelling to Canada.