Pop superstar Madonna has cancelled what would have been her first-ever concert in Portugal after a row with an evangelical church, local media reported.
The superstar was scheduled to bring her "ReInvention" concert tour to the 12,000-seat Atlantic Pavilion in Lisbon on September 12, according to concert promoters Tournee who booked the space in April for September 9-13.
But after the concert had been announced, the Lisbon-based Mana Christian Church said it had already booked the grounds for September 8-11 to hold a "Convention of Faith."
The church said it had reserved the grounds in February and it has refused to change the booking despite pleas from fans and an offer of a 25,000 euro (30,000 dollar) donation from Tournee.
Jorge Tadeu, a self-proclaimed apostle and founder of the church, told daily tabloid Correio da Manha last month he was "revolted" by those who "want to exchange Jesus for Madonna".
"In our understanding God is moving the Christian church to defeat Goliath," he added.
"We feel the pressure from Madonna is not restricted to the Mana church, but is part of a wider battle between the devil and Christ."
The Mana Church said in a statement issued Friday to national news agency Lusa that it had been informed by the singer's legal representative in Europe, John Giddings, that the concert would no longer take place.