Shots in Brussels
Sweden’s national coach on the death of two fans: “When I heard that, I almost started to cry”
Swedish fans wait in the stands after the European Championship qualifier had to be abandoned
© Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / DPA
Deadly shots and an abandoned European Championship qualifier in Brussels: Sweden’s national coach Janne Andersson reacts with concern to the death of two fans – and asks: “What kind of world do we live in?”
The violent death of two of their fans has affected Sweden’s national soccer team and their coach Janne Andersson was deeply touched and emotionally affected. Andersson reported at a press conference in the King Baudouin Stadium that he received the information when he was on his way to the dressing room during the break in the European Championship qualifier against Belgium. “I came into the locker room and when we started talking, we agreed 100 percent that we didn’t want to continue out of respect for the victims and their families,” said the 61-year-old, adding: “We wanted to with family and friends contact.”
On Monday evening, two Swedish supporters were shot and another person was wounded by an unknown perpetrator in Brussels. The qualifying game for the 2024 European Championship in Germany was canceled after consultation with both teams and the security authorities when the score was 1-1 after the first half. The crime scene is only around five kilometers from the King Baudouin Stadium, the former Heysel Stadium.
Shots in Brussels “no reason to play”
“What kind of world do we live in?” said Andersson. And further: “I feel so sad. As a Swede… I’m very sorry. I was supposed to have a good chat with the players during the break, but when I heard that, I almost started to cry.”
Sweden’s captain Victor Lindelöf also justified the abandonment of the game by saying that Belgium had already qualified for the European Championships and they no longer had a chance. “So I don’t see any reason to play. We wanted to get in touch with family and friends straight away to see if they were okay,” said the Manchester United defender. Her security team reassured her and explained that the stadium was the safest place in Brussels. “We felt safe here,” said Lindelöf.
Both the team and the Swedish supporters had to stay in the stadium until shortly before midnight. Only then did the crisis center give the signal to evacuate the stadium.