Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier towards Sweden was once deserted at half-time and followers had been saved in the stadium for safety motives after two Swedes have been shot lifeless in an assault in Brussels on Monday.
Spectators at the King Baudouin stadium in the Belgium capital had been instructed to continue to be interior the floor following an announcement that the gamers would no longer return for the 2d half.
“Following a suspected terrorist assault in Brussels this evening, it has been determined after session with the two groups and the neighborhood police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying fit between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned,” UEFA stated on its website.
Sweden’s soccer affiliation stated Belgium police had informed supporters “to remain in the area for protection reasons”.
Two Swedish nationals have been shot useless by means of a suspect who stays at large, in an assault the Belgium top minister described as “terrorism”.
Several Belgium media stores stated the two folks killed have been sporting the jersey of the Sweden country wide team.
“Our ideas go out to all the loved ones of these affected in Brussels,” a Swedish FA social media submit said.
The Belgium country wide team’s account wrote: “Our ideas are with all these affected.”
Belgium, who had already certified for subsequent year’s tournament, had equalised through a Romelu Lukaku penalty after Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring for Sweden earlier than the in shape was once halted with the rating at 1-1.
Belgium media mentioned that the Swedish gamers did no longer prefer to proceed the sport after studying of the attack.
Austria had previously Monday come to be the eighth crew to e book their location at the finals in Germany courtesy of a 1-0 win in Azerbaijan in the different Group F game.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer scored a penalty three minutes after coming on as a half-time replacement for Ralf Rangnick’s side.
Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice as Portugal thrashed Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 to preserve their ideal document in Group J.
Ronaldo, 38, prolonged his men’s file global desires tally to 127 after an early penalty was once accompanied via a deft chip that doubled the lead for Portugal in Zenica.
Bruno Fernandes hammered in a 1/3 and Joao Cancelo furnished a first-rate end of his own, with Joao Felix making it 5 earlier than half-time.
Portugal clinched first region with two video games final and have scored 32 instances and conceded simply twice each in Friday’s 3-2 win over Slovakia which secured qualification.
Slovakia solidified their grip on 2d area with a 1-0 victory in Luxembourg.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored twice for Iceland as they stayed in competition with a 4-0 rout of Liechtenstein.
Virgil van Dijk transformed a stoppage-time penalty to earn the Netherlands a quintessential 1-0 victory away to Greece in Group B.
Wout Weghorst had a first-half spot-kick saved for the Dutch in Athens, however Liverpool defender Van Dijk made no mistake after a foul on Denzel Dumfries.
The Netherlands drew degree on 12 factors with Greece and have the head-to-head benefit after beating them domestic and away. Ronald Koeman’s group additionally have a sport in hand on their competitors as they bid to wrap up 2d in the back of team winners France.
Brighton’s rising 18-year-old superstar Evan Ferguson was once amongst the scorers as the Republic of Ireland dispatched Gibraltar 4-0 in Portugal.