The second period of the Belgium-Sweden match will never take place. Counting for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, the match was interrupted at half-time on Monday, at the Roi-Baudouin stadium, while an attack committed in downtown Brussels cost the lives of two Swedish supporters. At that point, the two teams were tied on the scoreboard, 1-1. The UEFA Executive Committee decided this Wednesday that the game will not be replayed and that the score is confirmed as it stands. “The Executive Committee took note of the impossibility of playing the remainder of the match the next day,” explains UEFA, recalling that the two federations “taking into account the circumstances, explicitly expressed their desire not to play the remaining time and to consider the half-time result (1-1) as definitive.
In any case, “the respective calendars (of the two selections) do not allow the use of any date in the next international window of November, when the preliminary group stage of the competition must be concluded, which will be followed by the draw of the play-offs and the draw for the final phase,” adds UEFA. Last but not least, the result changes absolutely nothing in the standings of Group F: Belgium, leader, is already qualified for the next European Championship, while Sweden, third, is out of the race.
The two federations express their “satisfaction”. “Football should be a celebration, Monday evening a cowardly act decided otherwise. At such a moment, when the football family is struck in the heart, sports results are only secondary. UEFA’s decision puts a definitive end to the match, but we will never forget the victims. Our thoughts are with their families, as well as the players, staff and supporters of the Swedish national team. I would like to thank the supporters of both teams for their patience, their understanding and their cooperation following the end of the match, as well as the security services and the stewards for their professionalism and their excellent collaboration”, indicates the interim CEO of the Belgian Union, Manu Leroy, in a press release.
Same story from the president of the Swedish “fed”, Hakan Sjöstrand: “We are happy to learn that UEFA has made its decision and that it is in line with what both federations wanted. However, sporting issues are only secondary and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. It is shocking that innocent Swedish fans have become the target of an act of terrorism and it is difficult to predict what the consequences will be in the future. Together we must show that we remain united against terrorism. We would like to thank UEFA, URBSFA, the Belgian authorities and, above all, the Belgian fans for the support they have given us – immediately on site and in the days since the tragic events of Monday evening.” The players, staff, management and board of directors of the URBSFA “show their support for the Swedish team, the Swedish fans and all those affected by this tragedy”.