THE result for Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier with Sweden will stand following the official abandonment of the match.
Monday’s qualifier was postponed at half-time after news of two Swedish fans being shot dead by a terrorist in Brussels filtered through to both teams.
Both sets of players refused to carry on with the game, prompting the ref to call off the match.
It was initially unclear if Uefa would opt to replay the remainder of the match – which was level at 1-1 – at a later date.
But the European footie governing body has opted against doing so, deciding the half-time result.
A Uefa statement read: “With regard to the European Qualifier match between Belgium and Sweden abandoned at half-time upon request and agreement of the two teams, following the terrorist attack that killed two Swedish supporters in Brussels on 16 October, the UEFA Executive Committee decided today that: The match is abandoned and the result at the half-time interval (1-1) is confirmed as final, each team is awarded one point with the Group F standings to be updated accordingly and any suspension is considered served and single yellow cards remain valid.
“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.
“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, to be followed by the play-off draw and final tournament draw.”
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Swedish fans were kept inside the King Baudouin Stadium until 4am to ensure their safety
A number of Sweden players were emotional after learning of the news, including Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof – who called for the game not to be replayed.
He said: “Belgium are already qualified and we don’t have the opportunity to get to the European Championship.
“So I see no reason to play [replay the game].”
The Swede paid tribute to the supporters gunned down on Tuesday, writing: “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.”
Police shot dead a 45-year-old suspect in a cafe in Schaerbeek in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
