Scottish football executives yesterday bowed to public pressure and agreed to postpone their World Cup match against Belarus until Sunday. The original decision to play the match on Saturday, despite the clash with the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, led to widespread condemnation. Now, with the agreement of Belarus, Scotland will play the match at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The move has to be rubber-stamped by FIFA, but that is not expected to pose a problem, with both sides agreeing to the rescheduling. The Scottish FA sent a fax to FIFA last night and ratification is expected this morning.

In a statement, read out by Andy Mitchell last night, the Scottish FA said: "The SFA, in an attempt to find a solution, has received a tremendous level of co-operation from Belarus. They have been considerate and helpful. We are proposing to FIFA by fax that the match be played on Sunday, probably at 2 p.m. If that necessary approval is forthcoming then we have a solution.

"In satisfying the majority it will be necessary to inconvenience the spectators. We hope for their understanding and look forward to welcoming them on Sunday."

Scotland manager Craig Brown immediately gave his approval for the decision. He said: "The SFA have told me the game is now planned to go ahead on Sunday and I will have a team ready. In the circumstances I am sure it was the correct decision to take."

The SFA announcement came six-and-a-half hours after Brown was due to host a news conference, which was cancelled because of doubts about the game going ahead as scheduled on Saturday.

Three Rangers players, Ally McCoist, Gordon Durie and Andy Goram, had announced they would not play in any match.

"I talked it over at home," said McCoist, "but I made the decision almost immediately I knew we were to play on the day of the funeral. I said nothing until today because I wanted to see Craig Brown again first. We just feel that, on the day the lady is being buried, we wouldn't be able to do justice to ourselves, the fans or the team."

Durie added: "My emotions were swirling around, it's a very personal thing. When I talked with Ally, I was glad he spoke his thoughts, because he was thinking the same as me." Goram said: "I haven't said anything until now because I wanted to see if the day of the game would be changed."

And British Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped into the row earlier yesterday, expressing his disapproval about the match being played on Saturday.

Once his anger became public the SFA knew they would have to back down and try and find an alternative date.

Jim Farry, chief executive of the SFA, said: "Subject to the necessary confirmation of FIFA on behalf of our group opponents, and the goodwill of a lot of people, the game will go ahead on Sunday.

"It requires the agreement naturally of all our other group opponents. We arranged a dates meeting some considerable time ago and naturally we all signed up to it then. But exceptional circumstances require an exceptional solution and we remain confident that FIFA can find that for us."

Scotland's main rivals for a place in the finals next year are Austria and Sweden, who meet Vienna on Saturday evening. Manager Brown added: "Now we can watch that match and if that is a draw it means we need to win our final two games to qualify for France. What an incentive that would be."

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Paul Lambert summed up the mood of relief among the Scotland players that a decision had been reached. He said: "I'm just relieved it's over. Everyone can rest and look forward to Sunday and get on with playing the match."