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Burning cars and scooters. Football riots in Brussels after the match in Qatar

Some football “fans” in Belgium could not contain their emotions after the defeat of the Belgian national team at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Belgian team joined a fairly long list of favorites to fall to underdogs at the championship when they were beaten 2-0 by Morocco.

After the match, dozens of football hooligans started breaking shop windows, setting off pyrotechnics and setting fire to cars or electric scooters in the center of Brussels, AFP reported. Pyrotechnics injured one journalist.

According to Politico, supporters of the Moroccan team were responsible for at least part of the rioting, as evidenced by photos from the scene. At the same time, the website notes that most fans of African footballers celebrated peacefully.

Police used water cannons and tear gas against the rioters. Police officers faced attacks even before the end of the fateful match. Dozens of people, some dressed in hooded sweatshirts, tried to provoke scuffles with law enforcement officers. According to a police spokesperson, some hooligans had sticks.

The authorities deployed about a hundred police officers against them. Residents of the city were advised to avoid certain parts of the center. Due to rioters, some subway stations and access to some streets were closed.

“I condemn the incidents of this afternoon in the strongest possible terms. The police have definitely intervened,” wrote the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, on Twitter. At the same time, he praised the work of law enforcement officers, who arrested over ten people.

Rajae Maouane, a Belgian politician with Moroccan roots, also condemned the violence. “There is no excuse for the violent behavior of these ‘fans’. True supporters celebrate with joy and respect,” she tweeted.

Another Belgian city, Antwerp, and the Dutch city of Rotterdam also reported violence. There, according to the AP agency, police dispersed football rioters who threw objects at police officers.

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