{"id":111372,"date":"2023-10-17T05:03:56","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T05:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/17\/belgium-v-sweden-abandoned-after-brussels-shooting\/"},"modified":"2023-10-17T05:03:56","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T05:03:56","slug":"belgium-v-sweden-abandoned-after-brussels-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/10\/17\/belgium-v-sweden-abandoned-after-brussels-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium v Sweden abandoned after Brussels shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Fans of both teams were instructed by Belgian police to stay inside the stadium for their own safety – with an evacuation starting about 75 minutes after the abandonment was confirmed
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Belgium\u2019s Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden was abandoned at half-time for security reasons after\u00a0two Swedish people were shot dead in Brussels.<\/p>\n

The killings happened in the city hours before the game and are being treated as terrorism. The gunman is at large.<\/p>\n

The decision to abandon the game was confirmed at about 21:30 BST.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fans and players were ordered to stay in the King Baudouin Stadium for their own safety, before an evacuation began at about 22:45 BST.<\/p>\n

The Sweden team were given a police escort to the airport, while Sweden fans were accompanied by the police into the city.<\/p>\n

Sweden boss Janne Andersson said he and the players only found out about the shooting at half-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came into the locker room and when the team started talking, we agreed 100% that we didn\u2019t want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not yet known whether the victims were in Brussels to watch the Euro 2024 qualifier.<\/p>\n

\"Fans
Fans were told to return home immediately after leaving the stadium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Swedish FA social media post said: \u201cOur thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Belgian national team\u2019s account posted a statement that read: \u201cOur thoughts are with all those affected.\u201d<\/p>\n

A video posted on social media showed an Arabic-speaking man claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God.<\/p>\n

Following the shooting on Boulevard d\u2019Ypres, which happened at around 18:00 BST (19:00 local time), police and emergency services cordoned off nearby roads.<\/p>\n

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo \u201coffered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight\u2019s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels\u201d.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cOur thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The game was 1-1 when it was abandoned.<\/p>\n

Sweden captain Victor Lindelof said: \u201cBelgium are already qualified and we don\u2019t have the opportunity to get to the European Championship, so I see no reason to play [replay the game].\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n