A minute's silence will be observed at Euro 2024 qualifying matches on Tuesday in tribute to the victims of the terror attack in Brussels on Monday evening, the European Football Union (UEFA) announced on Tuesday.
The Belgium-Sweden match was called off at half-time on Monday at the Roi Baudouin stadium following the attack that claimed the lives of two Swedish supporters in their 60s and 70s in the centre of Brussels.
Belgian fans were able to leave the stadium at around 23:30, but Swedish fans had to wait until late into the night, with the last fans leaving at around 04:00 under police escort.
"A moment of silence will be observed at all UEFA EUR0 2024 qualifying matches [on Tuesday evening]," UEFA wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
A moment of silence will be observed at all UEFA EUR0 2024 qualifying matches tonight, in memory of the two victims of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Brussels ahead of the match between Belgium and Sweden.
— UEFA (@UEFA) October 17, 2023
"We will never forget the victims of this merciless attack," the Swedish Football Association also said on social media on Tuesday. "Yesterday [Monday], we tragically lost two yellow and blue supporters. They were in Brussels [...] to support our Swedish national team wearing yellow and blue shirts. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims."
President of the Fédération Internationale de Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, also posted on Instagram that he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths" and extended his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
'We cannot let hatred win'
The European Parliament, which is meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg this week, also observed a minute's silence at midday on Tuesday in memory of the two murdered Swedish football fans.
"Terrorism and extremism cannot infiltrate our societies. We have the right to feel safe and to live in safety. We cannot let hatred win," said the President of the Assembly, Roberta Metsola, as she offered the institution's condolences to the families of the victims.
In consultation with the Belgian authorities and the other EU institutions, the alert level for the buildings in Brussels was raised to orange. The European, Swedish and Belgian flags were flown at half-mast at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels.
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Article 29 of UEFA's regulations states that the second half of the match between Belgium and Sweden, which was halted on Monday after the attack in Brussels, must be played the day after.
This scenario has already been ruled out, as the Swedish players left Belgium on Monday evening after the match to return to Sweden. They arrived at the airport under police escort. The Red Devils, most of whom play abroad, also returned home.
"If a match cannot be played the following day, the UEFA administration will fix a new date during or as close as possible to the international window," UEFA regulations explain.
