The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden had to be canceled on Monday due to a tragic incident. Before the game began, a shooter fatally wounded two fans. The match was taking place approximately five kilometers away from the shooting incident in Brussels, and there were more than 35,000 fans in attendance.
As the suspect remained at large and reportedly posed a threat to Swedish fans, Belgian authorities decided to keep the spectators inside the stadium for nearly three hours. The evacuation process began around midnight local time.
After the game was stopped, fans inside the King Baudouin Stadium chanted, “All together, all together,” while thousands of supporters from both sides also voiced their support for Sweden by shouting, “Sweden, Sweden!”
Manu Leroy, the CEO of the Belgian soccer union, explained, “The decision to initially proceed with the match was made because the stadium was considered the safest place for everyone at that time, ensuring the fans’ safety.”
Eric Van Duyse, the spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, informed reporters that the investigation was focusing on the possibility of a terrorist motive behind the shooting.