<P> On 11 October 1900 , Beerschot AC honorary president Jorge Díaz announced that Antwerp would host a series of challenge matches between Europe 's best football teams . After some organisational problems , on 28 April 1901 , Beerschot 's pitch hosted its first tournament , in which a Belgian A-squad and a Dutch B - team contested the Coupe Vanden Abeele . Belgium won , and beat the Netherlands in all three follow - up games ; FIFA does not recognise these results because Belgium fielded some English players . On 1 May 1904 , the Belgians played their first official game , against France at the Stade du Vivier d'Oie in Uccle ; their draw left the Évence Coppée Trophy unclaimed . Twenty days later , the football boards of both countries were among the seven FIFA founders . At that time , the Belgian squad was chosen by a committee drawn from the country 's six or seven major clubs . In 1906 , the national team players received the nickname Red Devils because of their red jerseys , and four years later , Scottish ex-footballer William Maxwell replaced the UBSSA committee as their manager . From 1912 , UBSSA governed football only and was renamed UBSFA . During the Great War , the national team only played unrecognised friendlies , with games in and against France . </P>
<P> On 11 October 1900 , Beerschot AC honorary president Jorge Díaz announced that Antwerp would host a series of challenge matches between Europe 's best football teams . After some organisational problems , on 28 April 1901 , Beerschot 's pitch hosted its first tournament , in which a Belgian A-squad and a Dutch B - team contested the Coupe Vanden Abeele . Belgium won , and beat the Netherlands in all three follow - up games ; FIFA does not recognise these results because Belgium fielded some English players . On 1 May 1904 , the Belgians played their first official game , against France at the Stade du Vivier d'Oie in Uccle ; their draw left the Évence Coppée Trophy unclaimed . Twenty days later , the football boards of both countries were among the seven FIFA founders . At that time , the Belgian squad was chosen by a committee drawn from the country 's six or seven major clubs . In 1906 , the national team players received the nickname Red Devils because of their red jerseys , and four years later , Scottish ex-footballer William Maxwell replaced the UBSSA committee as their manager . From 1912 , UBSSA governed football only and was renamed UBSFA . During the Great War , the national team only played unrecognised friendlies , with games in and against France . </P>
where did the nickname red devils come from
where did the nickname red devils come from
red jerseys
red jerseys