The Euro 2024 qualification match involving Belgium and Sweden couldn’t continue as players refused to emerge from the dressing rooms for the second half of action.
The game was called off following the killing of 2 Swedish football fans in the center of Brussels ahead of the clash on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Belgium and Sweden Euro 2024 qualification match
Before the game was suspended, Belgium and Sweden were playing out a 1-1 draw, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring the only goal for the visitors before Romelu Lukaku converted a penalty to level matters in the 31st minute.
The perpetrator of the shooting of those Swedish fans has reportedly not been found or apprehended yet, but it was claimed on Monday, October 16, 2023, that he was close to the stadium.
The game wasn’t called off by the football authorities, but the players didn’t return due to apparent safety concerns.
Reports also indicated that despite the game being abandoned, fans and players had to remain at the stadium until security services informed them of a proper time to depart the stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
They were eventually evacuated at about 10:45 BST, as the Sweden team were given a police escort to the airport, while Sweden supporters were guided by the police into the city.
The encounter was played at the Stade Roi Baudouin, with Maurizio Mariani made the center referee for the clash.
The Red Devils and Sweden sit 1st and 3rd respectively in Group F, with Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium still unbeaten after 6 matches.
Belgium had on March 24, 2023, defeated Sweden by 0-3, courtesy of a hat-trick from Romelu Lukaku.
Unfortunately, this graven incident didn’t allow many witness what could have been an entertaining 90 minutes of football.
Why did players of Sweden not return for the second half of action?
Meanwhile, manager of Sweden Janne Andersson revealed what prompted his players not to return for the second half of action.
He said: “When I came down for the break, I got this information. Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?”
“I came into the locker room and when the team started talking, we agreed 100% that we didn’t want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.”
The Prime Minister of Belgium has also sent out his condolences to the Prime Minister of Sweden following the unfortunate incident.
Prime Minister Alexander de Croo stated: “I offer my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels”.
He also sent out his condolence message to the families and friends of the two individuals who lost their lives on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Alexander de Croo said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”
