Following a terror attack in Brussels, which led to the Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier being abandoned, Belgium could sacrifice its UEFA group position in an act of solidarity with opponent Sweden and its citizens who were killed in Brussels.
The Belgium-Sweden match held at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium was abandoned at half-time with the score at 1-1.
Under ordinary circumstances, when a match is abandoned at half-time, UEFA regulations demand that the remaining 45 minutes be played at a later date, but as quickly as possible. Both the Belgian and Swedish teams, reeling from the attack, have announced that they will not return to the pitch to finish the game.
With the match is suspended after Romelu Lukaku put Belgium level before the break, Sweden should technically forfeit the game, awarding points to Belgium. In a break from tradition, considering the serious nature of the disruption of the game, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced that it has no intention of asking Sweden to concede the match.
Sweden supporter at the match on Monday. Credit: Belga / James Arthur Gekiere
"We will not demand a forfeit from Sweden," Manu Leroy, interim CEO of the Union, told Le Soir. "We want to show respect after the events. We have to stand tall and we will stand tall." The Belgium team will contact UEFA, as well as the Swedish Football Federation and fellow group rivals at the Austrian Federation, to confirm the decision to settle the match as a 1-1 draw.
Solidarity
In the qualifiers, Belgium is at the top in its group with 16 points, tied with Austria. With a draw, Belgium’s points would rise to 17, meaning that the team should still comfortably qualify for the Euros. The club could however lose the top spot in the qualifying group, meaning that it would face a more difficult time during the group stages, likely facing stronger teams in the early rounds of the tournament.
"From a sporting point of view, this 1-1 draw does not do us any favour, but we’re not going to hang on to our seeded status. At some point, ethics and morality have to take over," Leroy explained. It remains to be seen whether UEFA will accept this proposed arrangement.
Theoretically, Austria could surpass Belgium to take the number one spot in Group F of the Euro qualifiers, if Belgium does not beat Azerbaijan at home on Thursday and if Austria wins its upcoming match against Estonia on 16 November. Belgium haven’t missed out on top seed in their group since Euro 2012.
