After the first half the score was 1-1 when the referee sent the two national teams to the changing rooms. The match was not played to the end because the Swedes, who were aware of the situation in the city and supported by the Belgian players, did not want to continue playing.
The 35,000 spectators in the King Baudouin Stadium were warned and informed that they were not allowed to leave the stadium for security reasons; the stadium was the safest place in the city at that time. When the announcement came, there was loud applause and there was the strange feeling of reliving the evening of November 13, 2015 at the Stade de France.
There was singing in the stands
The Belgian fans expressed their support for Sweden several times. ‘Sweden, Sweden’ was sung in the stadium.
After the terrorist attack in Brussels, Belgian and Swedish supporters came together to sing “Sweden” in support of the Swedish victims#Brussels #Belgium #Sweden
— Onlytrends October 16, 2023
The well-known ‘Tous ensemble, tous ensemble’ (in German: everyone united), which you often hear in the stands, also echoed through the stadium. This especially affected the 700 Swedish fans who came.
#TousEnsemble against terrorism! pic.twitter.com/5LaFj4Cwai
— Nico Patelli (@NicoPatelli) October 16, 2023
In solidarity, the many spectators in the stadium lit up their smartphones, bringing some light into the darkness.
A controlled evacuation
After more than two hours of waiting, the evacuation could finally begin at 11:47 PM when the area around the stadium was secured. Sector by sector, in peace.
Manuel Leroy, CEO of the Belgian Football Association, responded to this crisis situation to the Belgian media:
Increased security measures at the Lille stadium
Today another international competition takes place not far from Brussels, in Lille, France. The match between France and Scotland will take place under strict security measuresthe authorities announced on Monday evening.
In France, the highest alert level was declared after a fatal knife attack in the city of Arras.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also called for tightened controls at the French-Belgian border on Monday evening.
Soource :Watson

I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.