Belgium vs Sweden: Why Euro 2024 Qualifier match in Brussels was abandoned after half-time?

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Brussels, Oct 17: The Euro 2024 Qualifier football match between Belgium and Sweden was called off abruptly at halftime on Monday (October 16) after a suspected terrorist attack in the Belgian capital Brussels.

Thousands of football fans found themselves confined within Belgium's national stadium for nearly two and a half hours as an unprecedented situation occurred during the football match. The highly-anticipated match, which kicked off amid much fanfare, was abruptly halted at halftime due to a tragic incident.

Belgium vs Sweden Euro 2024 Qualifier match halted

The European Championship qualifier match was halted after a gunman had fatally shot two Swedish individuals in Brussels, just prior to the game's kickoff. The match was taking place only 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the place where the shooting occurred, which is in the heart of the Belgian capital.

As the suspect remained at large and targeted individuals of Swedish nationality, Belgian authorities decided to keep the football fans within the stadium for security reasons. The evacuation of the stadium commenced around midnight, local time.

What happened to the result of the Belgium vs Sweden match?

UEFA, European soccer's governing body, confirmed the cancellation of the Belgium vs Sweden match, with both teams supporting the decision. Belgium had already secured its place in the UEFA EURO 2024 championships to be held in Germany. The match was tied 1-1 at halftime, with Romelu Lukaku equalizing Viktor Gyokeres' opening goal.

"Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned. Further communication will be made in due course," the UEFA said in a statement.

How fans reacted during Belgium vs Sweden match?

Inside the King Baudouin Stadium, fans, both Belgian and Swedish, chanted "All together" as a show of solidarity, and "Sweden, Sweden" in support of the Swedish team.

Manu Leroy, the CEO of the Belgian soccer union, revealed that he was made aware of the seriousness of the situation in downtown Brussels just ten minutes before the scheduled kickoff. It was then decided that the match should proceed as the stadium was considered the safest place for the fans at that moment.

Shooting in Brussels: What are the authorities saying?

Eric Van Duyse, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor's office, informed the press that the investigation was primarily focusing on a potential terrorist motive for the shooting. A claim of responsibility for the attack appeared on social media, with the perpetrator allegedly claiming inspiration from the Islamic State.

The victims' Swedish nationality was cited as the likely motive for the act, and there were no apparent links to the Israeli-Palestinian situation at that time. Stringent security measures were swiftly implemented to safeguard Swedish supporters.

Belgium's crisis center raised the threat level in Brussels to the highest possible and urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel. The Swedish FA also communicated to Swedish supporters on-site that Belgian police recommended they remain within the stadium for security reasons.

The situation in Brussels was taken very seriously, and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suggested that the attack was linked to terrorism. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden stated that the perpetrator was actively being pursued, and a National Crisis Center meeting was convened to address the situation.

Belgian Police took extra precaution

Fans patiently waited inside the stadium well into the night. The Swedish fans were the last to leave the venue because the police would be escorting them, ensuring their safe return home and departure from the city.

The scenes of fans being confined inside a major European stadium were reminiscent of the tragic events at the Stade de France in Paris in 2015 when the stadium was targeted by Islamic State extremists during a match between France and Germany.

The Swedish supporters who were allowed to leave the stands were advised to speak English and take taxis for their safety. Players and officials unanimously agreed that the match should be called off in light of the tragic events.

(With Inputs from AP)