The rematch between Sweden and Belgium at the European Football Championship 2024 (Euro 2024), which was abandoned after the first half due to a shooting, will not take place.
“The result of the Belgium-Sweden match, which was abandoned after two Swedish fans were killed before kick-off, will stand,” UEFA announced on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on July 17. The Euro 2024 qualifying Group F match between Belgium and Sweden at the Stade Louis Baudouin in Brussels, Belgium, was called off at half-time with the score level at 1-1.
This was due to a shooting near Place Saint-Saëns in the center of Brussels. A man ran into the entrance of a building and opened fire on people at close range.
According to local media, the man fired a total of eight shots, hitting three people wearing Swedish national soccer team jerseys. Two of them lost their lives and one was injured.
This led to the suspension of the game after the first half, which resulted in the game ending 1-1 with no replay.
There will be no replay, as the teams have already qualified for Euro 2024 regardless of the result. Group F has already qualified with Belgium topping the group with 5 wins and 1 loss (16 points) and Austria second with 5 wins and 1 draw (16 points). Sweden, third in the group, was already out of the competition with two wins and three losses (6 points).
As a result, both the Swedish Football Association and the Belgian Football Association asked UEFA to uphold the 1-1 result without a replay. 안전놀이터
Both countries also criticized the attack near the stadium. The Swedish Football Association said it “welcomes UEFA’s decision” but added: “Apart from sport, the victims and their families come first. It is shocking that innocent Swedish fans were targeted by terrorism.”
The Belgian and Swedish professional soccer leagues will hold a minute’s silence before games this weekend to honor the two fans who were killed.
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