THE Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half-time.
Players decided not to continue following a horrific attack.
Why was the Belgium vs Sweden match abandoned?
The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned after two men, both wearing Sweden shirts, were gunned down in the street before the game in Brussels.
Sweden players decided during the break to not resume the game, with the score 1-1 at half-time.
This decision was agreed to by their Belgian counterparts.
Fans were kept inside the King Baudouin Stadium until security services confirmed it was safe to depart.
More on the Brussels shooting
As an extra safety measure, footy supporters were allowed to enter the press room.
What happened in Brussels?
On October 16, 2023, two men were killed in an attack in Brussels.
Videos shared online shows the alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket arriving on a moped just three miles from the Heizel stadium.
The alleged shooter then chases several people into a building while firing shots from an automatic rifle.
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It is believed he first shot at a van, with one man dying inside.
Meanwhile, a third victim was rushed to hospital.
A second video shared on social media shows a man in an orange fluorescent jacket claiming responsibility for the attack.
Cops in Belgium have now launched a terror probe following the shooting at Boulevard d’Ypres and the city has raised its terror alert to the highest level.
In a clip filmed moments before the horror, the alleged attacker says he’s part of terrorist group the Islamic State.
Speaking in Arabic, he allegedly claimed responsibility for the shooting and outlines what appears to be a terrorist manifesto.
After a manhunt was launched a man was shot and arrested in a local cafe in the early hours of October 17, 2023.
Will more Euro 2024 qualifier games be suspended because of the Brussels terror attacks?
It is yet to be confirmed if anymore Euro 2024 qualifier games will be suspended – but security services and ministers have gathered at a Crisis Center, amid fears of a terror motive.
The threat level for the Brussels Capital Region has been raised to level 4 – with officials telling locals to “avoid unnecessary movements”.
Regions are placed under level four “when the threat is serious and very imminent”.
What has the FA said about the Brussels terrorist attack?
A Swedish FA social media post added: “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
A Uefa statement on the incident, said: “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.”
Sweden boss Janne Andersson told a press conference that shocked players decided not to carry on out of respect to the victims and their families.
“When I came down for the break, I got this information. Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?” he told reporters.
“I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we agreed 100 percent that we didn’t want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.”
Sweden captain Victor Lindelof told the press conference that the players never felt in any danger.
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He said: “Our security team handled it well and put us at ease. They explained that this is the safest place to be in Brussels.”
Meanwhile, a statement from Belgium said: “Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
