Belgian police detained dozens of people on Sunday after Morocco’s 2-0 World Cup win over Belgium triggered riots in Brussels.
Morocco won its first World Cup match since 1998 – and its third ever – securing a sensational 2-0 victory over world No. 2 Belgium to ensure that it can still qualify for the knockout stage for the second time in its history.
The Atlas Lions were roared on by raucous support inside the stadium as they overcame a disallowed goal on the stroke of halftime to score two glorious strikes in the second half.
In a statement to CNN, Brussels police said, “At around 3:22 pm, dozens of masked persons sought a confrontation with the security services, jeopardizing public safety.”
According to Reuters, several riots took place across the Belgian capital where dozens of soccer fans, some draped in Moroccan flags, clashed with riot police, setting a car on fire as well as electric scooters.
“It was immediately decided to proceed to a police intervention, with the use of a water cannon and tear gas,” the Brussels police said.
“Calm returned around 7 p.m. and preventive patrols are still present in the sectors concerned,” the statement concluded.
