ON October 16, 2023, players made the decision to abandon the Belgium vs Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier following an horrific attack.
Here we take a look at if the match will be replayed or cancelled and what the FA has said in response to the situation in Brussels.
Will the Belgium vs Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier match be replayed or cancelled?
It is not yet known if the Belgium vs Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier match will be replayed or cancelled.
UEFA have confirmed that further communication will be made in due course.
After the game was abandoned, Sweden captain Victor 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].”
What happened to stop the Belgium vs Sweden match?
The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half-time on October 16, 2023.
Read More on Brussels shooting
The decision to abandon the match was made after two men, both wearing Sweden shirts, were shot dead in the street, moments before their teams qualifier game.
A third victim was also rushed to hospital.
Sweden players made the decision during the break to not resume the game, with the score 1-1 at half-time.
This was also agreed to by their Belgian counterparts.
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A statement from Belgium said: “Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Sweden boss Janne Andersson added: “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?
“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.”
On October 17, 2023, it was reported that police shot dead a suspected extremist accused of killing the two men near the football stadium in Brussels.
Feared ISIS fanatic Abdesalem L, 45, went on the run for hours following Monday night’s horror rampage before police tracked him down in a café and gunned him down.
Will the Brussels terror attacks impact more Euro 2024 qualifiers?
At the time of writing, is yet to be confirmed if anymore Euro 2024 qualifier games will be impacted and/or suspended.
Since the horrific attack, security services and ministers have gathered at a Crisis Center amid fears of a terror motive.
The terror threat level for the Brussels Capital Region has been moved to level four – with officials telling locals to “avoid unnecessary movements”.
The threat level indicates the likelihood of a terrorist attack.
Regions are placed under level four “when the threat is serious and very imminent”.
What has the FA said about the situation in Brussels?
Following the decision to abandon the game, the Swedish FA took to social media to share their condolences amid the horror that unfolded in Brussels.
A post by the Swedish FA read: “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
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UEFA also provided a statement following the incident which 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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
