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Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof does not want Sweden’s football match with Belgium to resume after Monday’s terrorist attack in Brussels.
The game was abandoned at half-time after goals from Victor Gyökeres and Romelu Lukaku, two people in the city were shot dead.
Sweden have nothing to play for and are already guaranteed to miss next summer’s European Championships.
As far as Belgium is concerned, they have already qualified after beating Austria 3-2 on Friday night.
WATCH NOW: Brussels after terror attack
And Lindelof, speaking after finally being able to leave King Baudouin Stadium, insisted the match should not be restarted.
“Belgium has already qualified and we don’t have a chance to reach the European Championships,” he said.
“So I don’t see any reason to play [replay the game],
Lindelof then praised Sweden’s security inside the arena and described what he had been told in the wake of a terrorist attack nearby.
He further added, “Our security team handled it well and made us comfortable.”
“He explained that this is the safest place to live in Brussels.”
As emotions ran high, UEFA issued a statement at half-time confirming that the match would not restart on Monday night.
It read: “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with both teams and local police authorities, that the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden has been cancelled.”
“Further communication will be made in due course.”
Sweden boss Jan Andersson has confirmed reports that his players did not want to play the second half after hearing about the incident which took place nearly three miles away.
“I got this information when I came down for a break,” he said.
“Immediately, I thought this was completely unrealistic. What kind of world do we live in today?
“I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we were in 100 percent agreement that we did not want to play out of respect for the victims and their families.”
Belgian FA CEO Manu Leroy opened up on the decision to go ahead with the competition in the first place.
He said, ‘Ten minutes before the match, reports started coming in about what happened around the stadium.
“In consultation with the security and order services, it was announced whether we can start the match.
“After the first half, the Sweden captain announced that they did not want to start the second half.”
After this Leroy started discussing how the stadium could be evacuated safely.
“The decision was taken at the highest level at 11.45 pm,” he said.
“Stand by stand we looked at how we could get people out in the best way.
Belgian police were on the spot after the terrorist attack in Brussels
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“The Swedish fans received a police escort, the players left for the airport under police escort to fly back to their country.”
When asked if the match would ever resume, Leroy appeared unsure.
“Only time will tell,” he said. “What happened is unreal.
“The players knew at half-time that the situation was serious, but first we had to confirm the facts.
“As far as the Belgian players are concerned: everyone was allowed to leave as agreed.
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Swedish football fans console each other after their country’s match with Belgium was canceled following a terrorist attack
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“Some went home, some to the players’ hotel.”
It has emerged that the police have shot and arrested the gunman.
A 45-year-old Tunisian claimed online that he was a warrior for Allah.
He is now in intensive care in hospital.
