Current:Home > MySoccer match between Belgium and Sweden suspended after deadly shooting in Brussels-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Soccer match between Belgium and Sweden suspended after deadly shooting in Brussels
View Date:2024-12-23 21:24:55
BRUSSELS (AP) — A soccer match between host Belgium and Sweden was suspended at halftime Monday after two Swedes were killed in a shooting in central Brussels before kickoff.
Fans remained inside the King Baudouin stadium after the European Championship qualifier was stopped and chanted “All together, All together,” with thousands of supporters from both sides also shouting “Sweden, Sweden!”
The match was being played around 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the shooting, with more than 35,000 fans attending. The teams were tied 1-1 at halftime.
“Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned,” UEFA said.
Belgium’s crisis center raised the level of threat in Brussels and its region to the highest and asked citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.
The Swedish FA said in a message to Swedish supporters on site that the Belgian police wanted supporters to stay in the arena for security reasons.
“Keep calm and take care of each other,” the FA said. “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suggested the attack, which took place more than an hour before the match, was linked to “terrorism.” It was not immediately clear if the shooting was linked to the international uproar over the Israel-Hamas war.
“A horrible shooting in Brussels, and the perpetrator is actively being tracked down,” said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, adding that she was joining government talks at the National Crisis Center.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, said the two victims were Swedes.
“We can’t play football in this situation. We and Belgium completely agree that we shouldn’t play,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson told Swedish website Fotbollskanalen.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
veryGood! (7287)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans
- Def Leppard, Journey and Steve Miller romp through five hours of rock sing-alongs
- Internet rallies for Maya Rudolph to return as Kamala Harris on 'Saturday Night Live'
- Records show deputy charged in Sonya Massey’s fatal shooting worked for 6 agencies in 4 years
- The Daily Money: All about 'Doge.'
- Prince Harry Reveals Central Piece of Rift With Royal Family
- Vermont opens flood recovery centers as it awaits decision on federal help
- Sofía Vergara Shares Rare Glimpse at Romantic Vacation With Boyfriend Justin Saliman
- Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
- Vance's 'childless cat ladies' comment sparks uproar from Swift fans: 'Armageddon is coming'
Ranking
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight odds will shift the longer the heavyweight bout goes
- RHONJ's Teresa Giudice Calls Out Haters and Toxicity Amid Major Season 14 Cast Drama
- Tennessee woman gets over 3 years in prison for blocking clinic access during protest
- Who is Charlotte Dujardin? Olympic champion admits 'error in judgement'
- Tuskegee University closes its campus to the public, fires security chief after shooting
- Below Deck’s Kate Chastain Shares Drama-Free Travel Hacks for Smooth Sailing on Your Next Trip
- Why Tennis Star Jannik Sinner Is Dropping Out of 2024 Paris Olympics
- Astronomers detect rare, huge 'super-Jupiter' planet with James Webb telescope
Recommendation
-
Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
-
Jack in the Box worker run over, spit on after missing chicken strip, ranch; customer charged
-
Terminal at New York’s JFK Airport briefly evacuated because of escalator fire
-
Kehlani announces Crash concert tour: How to get tickets
-
AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
-
Tiger Woods' son, Charlie, misses cut at U.S. Junior Amateur
-
A former candidate for governor is disbarred over possessing images of child sexual abuse
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Airline Food