Due to security concerns after the shooting deaths of two Swedes in an incident in Brussels on Monday, Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Sweden was called off at halftime. Fans were still confined to the stadium.
The players would not be coming back for the second half, and fans at the King Baudouin stadium in the Belgian capital were instructed to stay inside the stadium.
“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,” the UEFA website said.
According to the Swedish Football Association, spectators were instructed “to stay in the arena for security reasons” by Belgian police.
A suspect who is still at large shot and killed two Swedish nationals in an incident that the prime minister of Belgium called “terrorism”.
The two people who were slain, according to a number of Belgian media sources, were wearing Sweden national team jerseys.
A Swedish FA social media statement read, “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
The national team of Belgium posted on their account, saying, “Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Viktor Gyokeres had given Sweden the lead, but the game was stopped with the score at 1-1. Romelu Lukaku’s penalty gave Belgium, who had already qualified for the event the following year, an equalizer.
After learning of the incident, the Swedish players reportedly expressed a desire to stop playing, according to Belgian media.
Austria had earlier on Monday became the eighth team to secure their spot in the German finals after defeating Azerbaijan 1-0 in the other Group F match.
Marcel Sabitzer, a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, scored a penalty three minutes after replacing Ralf Rangnick’s team at halftime.
Ideal Portugal
Portugal defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 to keep their perfect record in Group J. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the victory.
Ronaldo, 38, increased his men’s record total of goals for his country to 127 when Portugal doubled their advantage in Zenica thanks to an early penalty and a superb chip.
Before halftime, Bruno Fernandes scored a third goal, Joao Felix made it five, and Joao Cancelo provided an outstanding finish.
With two games left, Portugal has taken the lead and is in first position. They have scored 32 goals and given up only two goals, both in their 3-2 victory against Slovakia on Friday to guarantee their qualification.
Slovakia’s 1-0 win in Luxembourg cemented their position in second place.
Iceland thrashed Liechtenstein 4-0 to remain in the game thanks to two goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
In Group B, Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time penalty kick gave the Netherlands a vital 1-0 win away to Greece.
Liverpool defender Van Dijk made no errors after a foul on Denzel Dumfries, but Wout Weghorst’s penalty kick for the Netherlands in the first half of the match was saved in Athens.
Greece and the Netherlands tied on 12 points, with the Netherlands leading the head-to-head match after defeating Greece both at home and away. Along with a match against their opponents, Ronald Koeman’s squad is attempting to finish second behind group winners France.
The Republic of Ireland defeated Gibraltar 4-0 in Portugal, with young Brighton sensation Evan Ferguson among the scores at the age of 18.
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