Belgium and Sweden's Euro 2024 qualifier abandoned at half-time after two people shot dead in Brussels before kick-off; UEFA have now confirmed the match will not be replayed owing to the schedule and the significance of the match, with Belgium already qualified and Sweden eliminated
Thursday 19 October 2023 15:22, UK
UEFA has announced that the abandoned Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden will not be replayed, with the 1-1 half-time score standing as the final result.
Monday's clash in Brussels had to be called off when two Swedish supporters were killed and another injured following a shooting three miles from King Baudouin Stadium.
Upon discovering news of the suspected terrorist attack, Sweden players asked for the game to be abandoned and it was eventually agreed, although fans were kept inside the ground for more than two hours with the gunman at loose at the time.
The gunman, reported to be a 45-year-old Tunisian national, was shot dead by police in a Brussels suburb on Tuesday morning.
UEFA's Executive Committee gathered after the abandonment and, following the request of both football associations, decided it best for the tie to not be rescheduled.
"To take the mentioned decision, the Executive Committee took note that it had proved impossible to play the remaining part of the match on the following day," a UEFA statement said.
"Both the Royal Belgian Football Association and the Swedish Football Association, given the circumstances, explicitly expressed their desire not to play the remaining match time and to consider the result at the half-time interval (1-1) as final.
"The result of this match does not impact the qualification of Group F since Belgium is already mathematically qualified to the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament (together with Austria) and Sweden is mathematically eliminated.
"The respective fixtures do not allow any date to be used in the upcoming November international window, when the preliminary group stage of the competition must be concluded."
UEFA also added that any yellow cards received on Monday remain valid and any suspension served by missing the Group F tie is now completed.
After the incident, Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to its highest level in the capital.
The score was 1-1 at half-time when the game was suspended and fans were told to remain in the King Baudouin Stadium "until security permits them to leave".
Fans chanted "All together, All together," with thousands from both sides also shouting "Sweden, Sweden!" as they waited inside Belgium's national stadium. The 35,000 supporters were eventually allowed to leave in groups just after midnight local time.
After the game, Sweden coach Janne Andersson confirmed they were told about the incident at half-time and decided not to continue with the match. He said: "Everyone was very sad and all the players agreed not to continue with the match."
Manchester United and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof said on Instagram: "I'm shocked and devastated by the terrible incidents in Brussels with the cold-hearted attacks on our fellow Swedes.
"I'm lost for words for the cruelty and inhumanity, I want to send 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 game of football and feel unsafe when supporting their team."
A post from the Swedish FA on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, read: "Keep calm and take care of each other. Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels."
The Belgian national FA also wrote: "Our thoughts are with all those affected."
Sky News' Adam Parsons:
"From our understanding he was on a bus, he was recognised and there was some kind of confrontation.
"He fled from the bus and went towards a cafe, which is where police arrested him, stopped him and took a weapon off him.
"The Belgian police have launched a huge operation. The threat level in the city has been raised to its maximum. The border with France has been tightened.
"It was a very nervous experience for them [at the stadium for the Belgium-Sweden game] and for everyone in the city a night of anxiety."
