In Belgium, after Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the soccer World Cup in Qatar, celebrations by citizens of Moroccan origin got out of control again.
Some fans threw stones and set fire to a container in the Belgian capital, Brussels, reports the Belga news agency. The police used tear gas and arrested several people. Riots also broke out again in the Netherlands. According to initial information, the police arrested 35 people in Rotterdam.
There had already been riots in both countries during Morocco’s group games. In the afternoon, the team secured a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 3-0 penalty shoot-out against Spain.
Stone throwing and burning containers in Brussels
Riots have broken out again in the Belgian capital of Brussels after the Moroccan national team’s sensational success against Spain. According to the Belga news agency, the celebrations had gotten out of control.
After Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, celebrations in the Belgian capital of Brussels have once again spiraled out of control. Some revelers threw stones and set fire to a container on Tuesday evening, the Belga news agency reported. The police used tear gas, among other things, and arrested several people. Details were not initially known.
In the Dutch city of Rotterdam, 35 arrests were also made in the city center during degenerate celebrations. Fireworks were thrown, and several people said they were insulting and could not identify themselves, the police said on Tuesday evening. In some cases, the riot police cleared places. Among other things, at the main station and on a central street, heavy firecrackers were ignited and thrown in the direction of people. A police officer suffered hearing damage. There were also traffic delays.
According to the police, ten arrests were made in Amsterdam, and others have not been ruled out. The football celebrations had degenerated into riots with damage to property, heavy firecrackers and violence against rescue workers. The police criticized that a small group of rioters spoiled the fun of happy football fans again. Ten arrests were also made in The Hague. There, too, firecrackers were thrown and riot police officers were deployed.
At the end of November, after the North Africans won against Belgium, supporters of Morocco rioted in Brussels. Around 100 police officers with water cannons had to take action against fans who destroyed street furniture and threw objects at the officers, it said.
Morocco secured their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Tuesday with a 3-0 penalty shoot-out against Spain. There, the team around penalty hero Bono will meet Portugal (4 p.m.) next Saturday, who had beaten Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16.
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