Sweden fan who was caught in Brussels terror attack shares emotional moment with Man United's Victor Lindelof after travelling to Azerbaijan for Euro 2024 qualifier

1 year ago 53

Supporter was caught up in recent terror attack in Belgium in last qualifier
Emil Forsberg and Victor Lindelof offered their support after game in Baku
England will struggle to win a trophy with Kalvin Phillips - It's All Kicking Off

By Dan Evans For Mailonline

Published: 14:57 GMT, 19 November 2023 | Updated: 15:46 GMT, 19 November 2023

A Swedish football fan who was caught up in the terror attack in Belgium last month was greeted by national team players after yesterday's Euro 2024 qualifier in Azerbaijan.

The supporter known as 'Lisen' made the journey to Baku just weeks after the incident that saw Swedish fans targeted by a gunman in Brussels.

Video footage shows that Lisen was picked out in the crowd by RB Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg before Victor Lindelof also came over to offer his support.

Two people were shot dead on that October night as supporters at the King Badouin Stadium were kept locked in until 4am while Police dealt with the situation.

The man suspected of the attack was shot dead by police the following day.

Victor Lindelof could be seen greeting a Sweden fan following the Euro 2024 qualifier in Baku

Many Sweden fans still made the trip to Azerbaijan despite the distressing nature of their recent qualifier in Brussels

The qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half-time with the score level at 1-1.

Belgian FA CEO Manu Leroy revealed news of the attack filtered through before the game, but it was allowed to kick-off after police and security services had been consulted.

'Ten minutes before the match, reports started coming in about what had happened around the stadium,' he said.

'In consultation with the security and order services, it was then announced whether we could start the match.'

Leroy also explained the decision to abandon the game was taken after Lindelof communicated that Sweden's players did not want to play the second half.

'After the first half, the captain of Sweden announced that they did not want to start the second half,' Leroy added.

'Then it was important to discuss with the police how we could best evacuate the stadium.

'The decision was made at the highest level at 11.45 pm.

'Stand by stand we looked at how we could best lead the people out. The Swedish fans received a police escort, the players left under police escort to the airport to fly back to their home country.'

Sweden head coach Janne Andersson revealed to reporters that he and his team were determined not to play out of respect for the victims.

The Euro 2024 qualifier in Brussels was abandoned at half-time with the score at 1-1

Terrified Belgian and Swedish supporters were locked inside the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on October 16 after two fans were shot dead. The match was abandoned at half-time

Sweden manager Janne Anderson (middle) spoke to the media shortly after the game was abandoned

'When I came down for the break, I got this information,' he said. 'Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?

'I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we agreed 100 per cent that we didn't want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.'

Despite the obvious concern that many fans would have felt heading into this latest round of qualification matches, Lisen and others still travelled to Baku for Thursday's qualifier.

Sweden knew before the game that they had no chance of securing an automatic qualification spot for Euro 2024, and they went on to lose 3-0 as Azerbaijan moved level on points with them in Group F.