Belgium and Sweden’s Euro 2024 qualifier was stopped at half-time due to a shooting in Brussels before the match. The Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to the highest level in the capital. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called it a “brutal terrorist attack.”
The Belgium vs Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier was stopped at halftime because of a shooting incident in Brussels before the match.
The match was cancelled due to a suspected terrorist attack, as confirmed by UEFA.
Belgian officials have increased the terror alert to the highest level in the capital, following a brutal terrorist attack.
“Last night three people left for what was supposed to be a wonderful soccer party,” De Croo said.
“The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend a Red Devils soccer match. Two Swedish compatriots passed away. A third person is recovering from severe injures,” De Croo said.
A man claiming to be from the Islamic State said he was responsible in a video posted online.
There was a shooting before a game in Brussels. It happened 45 minutes before the game, 3 miles away from the stadium. It’s not known if the victims were there to watch the game, but they were wearing Swedish football shirts.
The game was paused with a 1-1 score at half-time, and the fans were asked to stay in the King Baudouin Stadium until they were allowed to leave for security reasons.
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. The person with a gun is still missing.
Sweden’s coach, Janne Andersson, confirmed that the team was informed of the incident during halftime. They decided not to proceed with the match because of this. Andersson stated, “Everyone was saddened, and all the players agreed not to continue.”
Manchester United and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof added: “We discussed the remainder of the match with the team and the Belgians. The conclusion was not to play anymore. The most important thing is that the supporters are safe now.”
The Swedish Football Association posted on a social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), saying: “Stay calm and look after one another. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected in Brussels.”
The Belgian football association expressed their condolences to those affected.
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