BELGIUM
Will Still gives account of abandoned Belgium-Sweden match after Brussels attack
After hearing about the attack at half-time, both sets of players decided not to return for the second half.
Stade de Reims head coach Will Still was in attendance when Belgium’s match against Sweden at the Roi Baudoiun stadium on Monday night was abandoned due to a terrorist attack in the city of Brussels.
Two Swedish nationals were killed in an automatic rifle attack on Boulevard d’Ypres, just three miles from the ground, where Still and thousands of supporters were kept inside.
With fans in the stadium aware of the killings, the first half of the match was played, however, after hearing about the attack at half-time, both sets of players decided not to return for the second half.
Fans were kept inside the ground for over two hours for safety reasons. “The feeling inside the stadium? For now... it’s pretty calm. Everyone remained silent during the announcements when the match was stopped. There are supporters chanting, but it’s all a bit vague,” Still told French outlet RMC Sport.
The Reims boss later spoke to BFMTV, adding “Everyone has been allowed to leave the stadium. I am patiently waiting to be allowed to leave. It’s pretty calm. There isn’t really any panic or anything like that. It was a bit tense and calm at the start, but it’s okay now. The communication was pretty clear that we should stay in the stands. It was a bit long, but it was okay.”
Police shoot dead attacker
Police in Brussels shot dead the man who killed the two Swedish nationals on Monday. The 45-year-old, believed to be from Tunisia, died on Tuesday after being shot by police in a cafe.
The gunman, who identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility in a video posted online, is also suspected of wounding another Swedish national in Brussels on Monday night.