17 October 2023 , 06:49
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Sweden boss Janne Andersson only found out about the shootings in Brussels at half-time before their clash in Belgium was abandoned.
Two Swedish people were shot dead in the Belgian capital with the killings happening hours before the game. The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack with the decision to abandon the game taken at 9.30pm. A man suspected of carrying out the attack in Brussels was arrested on Tuesday morning.
Andersson's side can't make the European Championships in Germany next summer while Belgium have already qualified for the finals. The Swedish camp discussed the shootings at half-time and decided as a group that they didn't want to play on as a show of respect.
Their manager said: "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% that we didn't want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families."
It remains unclear whether the two Swedish people who were shot were in Belgium to watch the match at the King Baudouin Stadium. After the match was abandoned fans and players were ordered to remain in the stadium before they began evacuating at around 10.45pm.
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The Swedish team were given a police escort to the airport, while Sweden fans were accompanied by the police into the city. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo "offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight's harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels".
Fans and players were kept at King Baudouin Stadium for safety reasons after the game was abandonedHe also added: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners, the fight against terrorism is a joint one."
Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof doesn't want to see the game replayed, citing the qualification situation for both teams. 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]."
UEFA put out a statement on Monday night which read: “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.”