Adnan Januzaj’s debut for Belgium will not count after error in friendly

Adnan Januzaj in action for Belgium

Adnan Januzaj’s Belgium debut will not count in the record books, after the fixture was deemed invalid following too many substitutions by the national side.

Januzaj made his first-team appearance for the Belgium national team in a World Cup warm-up against Luxembourg on May 26, however, it has been deemed that Belgium manager Marc Wilmots made too many substitutions during the game which has ended up in it being wiped from the records.

Januzaj had the chance to represent six different countries, but he opted to represent Belgium, the country he was born in. Wilmots gave the Manchester United star the chance to represent his country in the friendly and it has now proved out that the 5-1 victory is merely a memory, with the fixture invalid.

A source told ESPN: “Belgium made seven substitutes but for an official A-Match only six are allowed.”

Januzaj was brought on at half-time, alongside three other Belgium players, however, it was the introduction of Nicolas Lombaerts for Jan Vertonghen after 77 minutes that triggered the stipulation in the laws and thus announced the game as invalid following investigations.

Romelu Lukaku, who is dubbed as one of the main men this summer for Belgium at the World Cup, netted a hat-trick in the friendly clash which means Januzaj is likely not to be the only one disappointed with the outcome.

Belgium take on Tunisia in their final friendly on Saturday, which provides Januzaj with another chance to make his debut.