Morocco’s 2-0 win over Belgium in the FIFA World Cup on Sunday became a cause of destruction and violence as rooting and looting began in several Belgian and Dutch cities, most notably capital Brussels and the northern city of Antwerp. Tear gas was utilised and water cannons had to be deployed to disperse crowd.
The Red Devils’ loss in the group stage clash was seen as a major upset in this year’s World Cup and it quickly became a reason for enthusiastic celebration by fans with Moroccan immigrant roots in many Belgian and Dutch cities.
Police had to be dispatched immediately and they sealed off several parts of the Belgian capital was sealed off. Similar measures were also applied in the northern port city of Antwerp. Police officers also had to utilise water cannons and tear gas in their attempts to disperse the manic crowds. Several cases of violence broke out during and in the immediate aftermath of the match.
Police detained about a dozen people in Brussels while eight more were captured in Antwerp. In Rotterdam, a couple of police officials suffered injuries. An easy calm returned to the major cities only by late night on Sunday after the major rioters had been disbanded.
Dozens of people damaged public property, overturned and torched cars, set electric scooters on fire and even pelted cars, including those of the police, with bricks. Police moved in to intervene in the matters after one was injured according to the spokeswoman of Brussels police, Ilse Van de Keere.
The mayor of Brussels Phillippe Close requested people to avoid the city centres and also assured that authorities were doing their best to maintain peace and order in the city streets. Even subway and tram traffic had to be interrupted on police orders.
“Those are not fans, they are rioters. Moroccan fans are there to celebrate. There were also disturbances in the city of Antwerp and Liege,”
he said.
“Sad to see how a few individuals abuse a situation to run amok,”
said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden.
