Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has postponed the weekly government meeting, so that he can turn out for his local football team.

Tuesday is normally the day for the cabinet meeting, but this week it will take place on Friday, when Mr Orban returns from Croatia.

He travelled there at the weekend with his home-town team of Felcsut, an amateur side who play in a lower division of the Hungarian football league.

Mr Orban, 37, is a midfielder who regularly plays for Felcsut, although since he became prime minister in May 1998, he has been unable to play as often as before.

Felcsut travelled to the town of Porec in Croatia on Friday, where the players are attending a mid-season training camp.

The prime minister's office said he was taking holiday to enable him to train.

In 1999, Mr Orban led a team of Hungarian politicians - including Interior Minister Sandor Pinter - against a team of British MPs.

Mr Orban dominated the midfield, and the Hungarians won 2-0.