Image of Belgium's national team, the Red Devils
I have wondered why Belgium’s national football team carries the name The Red Devils. Ten years ago in Mortsel, a community in the Province of Antwerp, I asked a Belgian why the team was given such a name when thousands of better, more uplifting names exist.
I told him plainly that the players are perfect gentlemen, none of them look like a devil. He stared at me and asked, “Are you religious?”
The color red may be attractive, but it is also associated with danger, caution, and warning. The devil, in many cultures, symbolizes destruction, evil, and misfortune.
Society often blames crime, rape, murder, and other social ailments on “the devil.” So why would a national team choose a name tied to negativity?
Perhaps the person who named Belgium’s team The Red Devils imagined a squad capable of “destroying” opponents. However, has the team ever won a major tournament?
After living in Belgium for more than sixteen years, I can say that the Red Devils have brought me more disappointment than joy.
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Names carry power. In a world where many chase material success, the spiritual impact of names is often ignored. People name their daughters Mary or Maria because of the biblical association with purity and motherhood.
Yet no one names their child Jezebel, a woman remembered for wickedness and a tragic end. If society avoids names linked to evil, why should a national team embrace one?
I am not suggesting Belgium rename the team White Angels or Leopold II Stars. Angels don’t play football, and Leopold II’s legacy is a painful chapter in African history.
My point is simple: Red Devils is a bad name for a team that wants to excel. The name carries a shadow, and the team’s history of returning home empty‑handed reflects it, just as the devil always loses to Jesus.
Belgium once changed its national airline from Sabena to SN Brussels, and has changed again to "Brussels Airlines." Names matter. Time is running, and if Belgium truly wants its national team to reach the top, perhaps it should consider changing the name too.
Physically and spiritually, the devil cannot win. As Proverbs 22:1 reminds us, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”