The European Championship qualifier between Belgium and Sweden due to the attack on Monday evening is rated 1-1. It was stopped at halftime with this score. The Executive Committee of the European Football Union Uefa this Thursday.
“In deciding on this matter, the UEFA Executive Committee took into account that it proved impossible to play the remaining minutes of the game the following day,” UEFA said in a statement. A new appointment at short notice was also not possible.
With the draw rating, the association is following the express wishes of the Belgian and Swedish football associations.
Belgium and Austria have already qualified early in Group F for the final round of the European Championship tournament next year in Germany (June 14 to July 14, 2024), while Sweden will not take part. In this respect, the canceled game was largely insignificant.
The abandonment of the game at the King Baudouin Stadium during half-time was a reaction to the attack by a 45-year-old Tunisian in the Belgian capital. Abdesalem L. shot two Swedish fans in the city area and seriously injured another person. On the Tuesday after the crime he was shot by the police and died a short time later. The terrorist militia IS claimed responsibility for the attack. Thousands of football fans had to stay in the stadium for hours after the match was abandoned.
The UEFA Executive Committee also decided on Thursday that, given the current situation in the Middle East, no more European competition games will be played in Israel until further notice. Instead, the clubs concerned should suggest venues abroad.
Sources: UEFA, DPA news agency
