SWEDEN’S away match to Belgium in the Euros 2024 qualifier was abandoned at half-time due to a suspected terrorist attack.
Sweden manager, Janne Andersson spoke to the media on the decision to abandon the match at half-time.
He said: “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.”
Belgium quickly agreed with Sweden to abandon the match.
There have been talks to replay the game but Swedish captain Victor Lindelof says there is ‘no need for a replay’.
Lindelof said: “Belgium are already qualified and we don’t have the opportunity to get to the European Championship, so I see no reason to [replay the game].”
The terrorist attack happened before the match with two Swedish fans being shot dead and one other fan being seriously injured in the attack, the attack took place three miles from the King Baudouin Stadium.
Both teams did not find out about the attack until half-time and decided it was best to abandon the match as soon as possible for everyone’s safety.
There was a video posted on social media with the suspected attacker saying he had done this attack in the name of God.
The gunman was shot dead by police in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Brussels.
Belgium Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo spoke on the terrorist attack, he 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”
This is not the first time a terror attack has taken place at a football match, back in 2015 France were subjected to a terrorist attack by a bombing when they played Germany.
