Morocco's miraculous victory over Belgium at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar sparked controversy after triumphant Moroccan football fans threw torches and firecrackers in Belgium.
On the 27th (local time), foreign media such as AFP and the Associated Press reported on the riots of Moroccan soccer fans in Belgium.
In the second leg of the Qatar World Cup Group F group stage held at Asumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Morocco, ranked 22nd by FIFA, won 2-0 against Belgium, ranked 2nd.
Morocco's win over Belgium was another surprise at this year's World Cup in Qatar, as Japan beat Germany 2-1, Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia before returning with a 2-0 win over Mexico .
It was Morocco's first win in the World Cup finals in 24 years, since their 3-0 win over Scotland in the third group stage match of the 1998 World Cup in France.
According to reports, dozens of soccer fans broke shop windows in the center of Brussels immediately after the match, threw firecrackers at vehicles and set them on fire.
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In addition, testimonies and reports that they saw riots on the streets of Brussels followed.
The Associated Press said, "Trash bins and electric scooters were also set on fire, and some people threw bricks at the vehicles." are doing," he said.
Reuters reported that "riots broke out in several places in Brussels that day, and dozens of football fans, including some wearing Moroccan flags, clashed with police."
Their riots did not stop there.
In addition to Brussels, 50 soccer fans in eastern Liège, Belgium, rioted by breaking police station windows and destroying police cars, and the police subdued them with water cannons.
There was also chaos in the Netherlands as Moroccan fans celebrated the victory by throwing torches and firecrackers right after the game.
They honked their horns and waved flags as they roamed the road.
According to a video posted online, Dutch police armed with batons and shields suppressed fans as the area became untidy.
Police said on Twitter that about 500 people once gathered in the center of Rotterdam, and police forces were mobilized in the Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht.
In addition, in Paris, France, where many immigrants from Morocco live, Moroccan fans celebrating the victory poured out, and it was reported that some areas such as the Champs-Élysées were congested.
Brussels police explained that "dozens of people confronted the police even before the game ended," with some fans "holding long sticks and a reporter with firecrackers injuring his face."
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According to the police, about 100 police officers were dispatched to the scene in a riot that took place on the streets of Brussels, and the police used water cannons and tear gas to quell the riots.
As a result, access was restricted in parts of the main street, subway stations were blocked, and in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, two police officers were injured and taken to hospital.
The riot was quelled after 7 p.m.
11 people were arrested at the scene, 1 person was detained, and the possibility of additional arrests is not ruled out, and witnesses are being sought.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close strongly criticized the riots, saying, "They are rioters, not fans."
Regarding this riot, netizens responded that they couldn't understand, such as "Soccer should be just soccer. That's sportsmanship", "Why are you making a fuss when you won", "Is this the way Moroccans celebrate victory?" .
(Photo = AP/Yonhap News, Video = @visegrad24 Twitter)