Belgium's first home game since Brussels terror attack is played behind closed doors after the venue for Serbia friendly was moved 30km away due to heavy rain
- Belgium's friendly against Serbia on Wednesday night was switched to Leuven
- Match moved after heavy rain made pitch at King Baudouin stadium unplayable
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Belgium's friendly against Serbia on Wednesday night was switched to Leuven after heavy rain made the pitch at Brussels' King Baudouin stadium unplayable.
The Belgian FA announced on Wednesday morning that the match would be held instead at Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven with no fans allowed.
'Given the short-term impossibility of organising the match safely in the presence of supporters, the match will be played without an audience,' a spokesman said.
The location for that Group F match remains the same 'until further notice.'
Spectators who had bought tickets will get a refund.
![Belgium's friendly against Serbia on Wednesday night was switched to Leuven](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/20/77848757-0-image-a-1_1700080848463.jpg)
Belgium's friendly against Serbia on Wednesday night was switched to Leuven
![Fans were banned despite the friendly taking place just 20 miles away in Leuven](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/20/77848733-0-image-a-2_1700080859469.jpg)
Fans were banned despite the friendly taking place just 20 miles away in Leuven
![Match switched after heavy rain made pitch at Brussels' King Baudouin stadium unplayable](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/20/77848807-0-image-a-3_1700080921934.jpg)
Match switched after heavy rain made pitch at Brussels' King Baudouin stadium unplayable
The match was Belgium's first home game since Brussels terror attack last month.
Two Swedish fans, one in his 60s and one in his 70s, were shot dead and a third person injured in the the attack on October 16.
Sweden were playing against Belgium at King Baudouin Stadium, but the match was abandoned at half-time after news of the attack and the crowd was instructed to stay inside the stadium.
The man suspected of the attack was shot dead by police the following day.
Swedish supporters were locked inside the stadium until 4am, while Swedish players were taken to the airport under police escort.
A video posted online featured a fluorescent-jacketed man claiming a link to Islamic State saying in Arabic that he had carried out a 'revenge attack'.
In it, he boasted that he had killed 'infidels' while earlier in the day he had posted on Facebook referring to the stabbing in the US of a Palestinian boy, by his mother's landlord.
Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne told the news conference the suspect was a 45-year-old Tunisian man who sought asylum in Belgium in November 2019 and was known to police over people smuggling and illegal residence in Belgium.
Amid distressing scenes, UEFA released a statement confirming the cancellation, which happened at half-time during the clash at the King Baudouin Stadium. Swedish fans were asked to stay in the ground for their own safety.
![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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76630461-12754541-Terrified_Belgian_and_Swedish_supporters_were_locked_inside_the_-a-30_1700083300572.jpg)
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
![Concerned supporters embraced each other during the terrifying experience as Belgian authorities locked all fans inside the stadium for their own safety in the aftermath of the attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76629955-12754541-Concerned_supporters_embraced_each_other_during_the_terrifying_e-a-31_1700083323482.jpg)
Concerned supporters embraced each other during the terrifying experience as Belgian authorities locked all fans inside the stadium for their own safety in the aftermath of the attack
![Police arrived at the site of the shooting incident while the match was underway in Brussels](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76627715-12754541-Police_arrived_at_the_site_of_the_shooting_incident_while_the_ma-a-32_1700083329648.jpg)
Police arrived at the site of the shooting incident while the match was underway in Brussels
![The shooting took place in Boulevard d'Ypres - approximately three miles from the stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76627395-12754541-The_shooting_took_place_in_Boulevard_d_Ypres_approximately_three-a-33_1700083333157.jpg)
The shooting took place in Boulevard d'Ypres - approximately three miles from the stadium
It read: 'Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned. Further communication will be made in due course.'
The score was 1-1 at the time the game was abandoned. Viktor Gyokeres gave Sweden a 15th-minute lead, but Romelu Lukaku had Belgium level just after the half-hour.
Belgian FA CEO Manu Leroy revealed news of the attack filtered through before the game, but the Euro 2024 qualifier was allowed to kick-off after police and security services were 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 Sweden's players did not want to play in 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 after the match was suspended 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](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76645181-12754541-The_Euro_2024_qualifier_in_Brussels_was_abandoned_at_half_time_o-a-35_1700083371445.jpg)
The Euro 2024 qualifier in Brussels was abandoned at half-time with the score at 1-1
![Sweden manager Janne Anderson (middle) spoke to the media shortly after the game was abandoned](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76645015-12754541-Sweden_manager_Janne_Anderson_middle_spoke_to_the_media_shortly_-a-29_1700083287705.jpg)
Sweden manager Janne Anderson (middle) spoke to the media shortly after the game was abandoned
![Police at the King Baudouin Stadium patrolled Swedish fans until it was safe for them to leave](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/15/21/76644895-12754541-Police_at_the_King_Baudouin_Stadium_patrolled_Swedish_fans_until-a-36_1700083425537.jpg)
Police at the King Baudouin Stadium patrolled Swedish fans until it was safe for them to leave
'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.'
After taking on Serbia, Belgium is set to face Azerbaijan in a qualifying game for next year's European Championship on Sunday at King Baudouin stadium.
Belgium have already qualified for Euro 2024.