Belgium vs Sweden: UEFA declare Euro 2024 Qualifier will not be replayed after Brussels shooting

The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden that was abandoned at half-time will not be repeated, with a 1-1 result confirmed as final.

A man suspected of shooting dead two Swedes before Monday’s match in Brussels died on Wednesday. This was after he was shot and arrested by police in a café in Brussels.

The match was abandoned at half-time by UEFA after the incident described by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo as a “brutal terrorist attack”.

The two people killed were Swedish, and a third person was injured in the attack.

UEFA said in a statement: “With regard to the European qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden which was abandoned at half-time at the request and agreement of the two teams, following the terrorist attack that killed two Swedish supporters in Brussels on 16 October, the UEFA The committee decided today (Thursday) that the match will be abandoned and that the half-time score (1-1) will be confirmed as final.”

The statement added: “Each team will be awarded one point, with the Group F standings updated accordingly.

Any suspension is considered served and some yellow cards remain valid. In making the said decision, the Executive Committee took note that it had proven impossible to play the remainder of the match the following day.

“Given the circumstances, both the Royal Belgian Football Association and the Swedish Football Association have explicitly expressed their wish not to play the remaining playing time and to consider the score at half-time (1-1) as final.”

The result will not affect Group F qualification, as Belgium – along with Austria – has already qualified for Euro 2024, while Sweden is mathematically eliminated.

The schedule does not allow a date to be used in the upcoming November international period when the preliminary group stage of the competition is to be completed, followed by the play-off draw and the final tournament.

Following the incident, Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to the highest level in the capital.

The score was 1-1 at half-time when the match was stopped and fans were told to remain in the King Baudouin Stadium “until security allows them to leave”.

Fans chanted “All together, all together,” while thousands from both sides also shouted “Sweden, Sweden!” shouted. as they waited in Belgium’s national stadium. The 35,000 supporters were eventually allowed to leave in groups just after midnight local time.

After the match, Swedish coach Janne Andersson confirmed that they had been informed of the incident at half-time and decided not to continue the match. He said: “Everyone was very sad and all the players agreed not to go ahead with the match.”

Manchester United and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof said on Instagram: “I am shocked and devastated by the terrible incidents in Brussels with the cold-blooded attacks on our fellow Swedes.

“I have no words for the cruelty and inhumanity, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those affected.

“At the same time, my thoughts go out to all the supporters in Belgium last night. No one should ever go to a football match and feel unsafe supporting their team.”

A message from the Swedish FA on the social media platform

The Belgian National Football Association also wrote: “Our thoughts are with all those affected.”

From Brussels: How the police arrested a terror suspect

Sky News’ Adam Parsons:

“From what we understand, he was on a bus, he was recognized and there was some kind of confrontation.

“He fled from the bus and went to a café, where the police arrested him, detained him and took a gun from him.

“The Belgian police have launched a huge operation. The threat level in the city has been raised to the maximum. The border with France has been tightened.

“It was a very nervous experience for them (in the stadium for the Belgium-Sweden match) and a night full of anxiety for everyone in the city.”