No Fans Allowed: Belarus Vs Switzerland Match

The Euro 2024 qualifier match between Belarus and Switzerland was played without fans in the stands. This was due to the UEFA-imposed ban on Belarus from hosting matches in their own territory because of the country's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The match was played in Serbia, with no spectators allowed. This decision by UEFA sparked some controversy, with some arguing that Belarus should be banned from competing altogether due to their human rights record and close ties with Russia.

The match was played in Serbia due to the UEFA-imposed ban on Belarus from hosting matches

The match between Belarus and Switzerland was played in Serbia due to the UEFA-imposed ban on Belarus from hosting matches. This ban was put in place due to Belarus' involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Since Belarus was banned from hosting matches, the game had to be played at a neutral venue. However, finding a country willing to host Belarus was challenging due to their close ties with Russia. Serbia was ultimately chosen as the host country, as Belarusian fans could travel there easily due to visa restrictions in other European countries.

The match was also played behind closed doors, meaning there were no spectators in the stadium. This decision was made to ensure the safety of the players and staff, as there were concerns about potential harassment or incidents.

The choice of Serbia as the host country caused some controversy due to the ethnic backgrounds of some Swiss players. Xhaka and Shaqiri, two Swiss players of Kosovar Albanian descent, had previously made headlines for taunting Serbian fans and displaying their Albanian heritage during a match between Switzerland and Serbia. However, others argued that the Serbian police would handle the situation professionally, and no incidents were reported.

In addition to the match being played in Serbia, the Belarusian national team has also been banned from taking part in other international sporting competitions, such as the Olympics and Paralympics.

The ban was due to Belarus's support of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine

The 2024 European Qualifiers match between Belarus and Switzerland was played in Serbia, with no fans in attendance. This was due to a ban imposed by UEFA on Belarus from hosting any continental or international matches. The ban was a result of Belarus's support of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine.

Given Belarus' close ties with Russia, there was some controversy regarding their participation in UEFA competitions. While they were barred from hosting matches, they were still allowed to compete. This decision was criticised by many, who believed that UEFA should have imposed a complete ban on Belarus, similar to the ban on Russia.

The case for excluding Belarus from UEFA competitions was strengthened by the country's poor human rights record, which had a direct impact on its football scene. Journalists, players, and coaches who expressed political views or criticised the regime faced repercussions, including arrests, detentions, and even jail sentences.

The match between Belarus and Switzerland was played without incident, but the controversy surrounding Belarus's participation highlighted the complex geopolitical tensions within European football.

The Swiss were higher-ranked and had a better record than Belarus

Switzerland boasted plenty of talented players from some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, Yann Sommer, and Denis Zakaria. In contrast, Belarus had very slim hopes of causing problems for nations in their group. They had no competitive wins in 13 matches, with 10 defeats dating back two years. Their squad was relatively inexperienced, with only Denis Polyakov having more than 30 caps for his country.

Switzerland's possible starting lineup included Sommer, Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, and Rodriguez, while Belarus's possible starters included Plotnikov, Volkov, Polyakov, Yuzepchuk, and Khadarkevich. The Swiss were clear favourites, and the match ended in a 5-0 victory for Switzerland, with Renato Steffen scoring an early hat-trick.

The game was played without spectators

The game between Belarus and Switzerland was played without spectators. This was due to the UEFA-imposed ban on Belarus from hosting any continental or international matches. The ban was put in place because of the country's supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The game was played in Serbia, with Switzerland winning 5-0.

The decision to play the game behind closed doors was made to ensure the safety of the players and staff of both teams. There were concerns about potential harassment of the Swiss team, particularly those of Kosovar-Albanian descent, by Serbian fans. In addition, the Belarusian team would have felt safer playing without spectators, given Serbia's support for Belarus.

The match was part of the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with Switzerland looking to rebound from their 6-1 defeat to Portugal in the World Cup. Despite their previous loss, Switzerland remained confident, having qualified for the finals in Qatar and boasting players from some of Europe's biggest clubs. On the other hand, Belarus was struggling, with no competitive wins in 13 matches and dealing with the impact of sanctions on their football scene.

The game was not the first time Switzerland and Belarus had met; they had previously played each other in qualification for Euro 2000 and in a friendly in 2017, with Switzerland winning all three encounters. With Switzerland's strong record against Belarus and their higher ranking going into the match, they were favoured to win.

The match was a qualifier for the Euros

The match between Belarus and Switzerland was a qualifier for the Euros, taking place in March 2023. It was part of the Euro 2024 qualification campaign, specifically in Group I. This was the opening set of fixtures for the qualification round.

The match was held in Serbia due to the UEFA-imposed ban on Belarus from hosting continental and international matches. This ban was put in place because of the country's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Belarus was not barred from competing, but they were prevented from hosting matches.

Switzerland won the match 5-0, with Renato Steffen scoring a hat-trick. This was Switzerland's first match since being beaten 6-1 by Portugal in the World Cup the previous year. Despite this, they kept Murat Yakin as their manager.

Frequently asked questions